Opinion ID: 177197
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Disputes Concerning Jury Instructions

Text: The two disputes forming the basis for this appeal arose when it came time to instruct the jury. First, the parties disagreed about the proper instruction for determining whether a product is defectively designed and unreasonably dangerous. Colorado law provides two different tests. Under the consumer expectation test, the jury is instructed to find defectiveness if the plaintiff proves that a product is dangerous to an extent beyond that which would be contemplated by the ordinary consumer who purchases it. Ortho Pharm. Corp. v. Heath, 722 P.2d 410, 413 (Colo.1986) (quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A cmt. I (1965)) (internal quotation marks omitted), overruled on other grounds by Armentrout v. FMC Corp., 842 P.2d 175 (Colo.1992). Under the risk-benefit test, the jury is instructed to conclude that a product is unreasonably dangerous if the plaintiff proves that the risks of a challenged design outweigh its benefits. Armentrout, 842 P.2d at 182-84. Appellants submitted instructions proposing that the district court instruct the jury under both tests, but the district court gave only the risk-benefit instruction. The second dispute centered on the applicability of Colorado Revised Statute § 13-21-403(3), which creates a presumption that a product is not defective once it has been on the market for ten years. Over Appellants' objections, the district court instructed the jury on the presumption. The jury returned a verdict for Teleflex and the district court entered judgment accordingly. Ms. Kokins and the City timely appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.