Opinion ID: 1215347
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Ruling of the Trial Court

Text: In a pre-trial order signed by all counsel without objection, the court below limited the substantive issues as follows: as to Firestone, negligent failure to warn that harm would result from the use of non-compatible parts, that is, attaching to a Firestone tank a Cornelius lid; as to Cornelius, the same negligent failure to warn as to use of mismatched components, negligent design of the lid and the pressure release valve, negligent failure to warn of such alleged defective construction, and breach of an implied warranty of fitness; and, as to Chudnow, negligent failure to warn as to safe handling (use of the adjusting screw without a locknut), negligent design of the regulator assembly, and breach of implied warranty of fitness. The pre-trial order stated that the defenses to the foregoing claims were contributory negligence, assumption of the risk, misuse of the specific products, and that the products were not being devoted to their intended general use. In a detailed written memorandum prepared after the decision to strike the evidence had been announced, the trial judge reiterated his earlier ruling that the results of certain additional tests, to be discussed infra, were properly excluded. The court then stated its reasons for striking the evidence as to Firestone and Cornelius because the proof was insufficient as a matter of law. As to Chudnow, and also Cornelius, the court explained its ruling that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence which barred his recovery under the several tort counts. The court found that plaintiff, an experienced mechanic, acted without reasonable care when he took part in pressurizing the system when the locknut was missing from the adjusting screw and when he failed to ascertain that the screw was at the off position when the pressure was turned on. In ruling adversely to plaintiff as to the warranty count against Chudnow, the court decided that the regulator was properly manufactured, that no defect existed when the instrument left the manufacturer's hands, and, further, that the regulator was not used as manufactured and outfitted.