Opinion ID: 1632797
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Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Liability of Loma Machine Manufacturing, Inc.

Text: Burkett bases his claim against Loma on the Alabama Extended Manufacturer's Liability Doctrine (AEMLD), which applies when: (1) [The Plaintiff suffers] injury or damages to himself or his property by one who sells a product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the plaintiff as the ultimate user or consumer, if (a) the seller is engaged in the business of selling such a product, and (b) it is expected to and does reach the user or consumer without substantial change in the condition in which it is sold. Casrell v. Altec Industries, Inc., 335 So.2d 128, 132-33 (1976). If substantial changes were made to the billet saw after its sale to Wolverine, Loma is relieved of liability under the AEMLD. Fenley v. Rouselle Corp., 531 So.2d 304 (Ala.1988). Loma, the party moving for summary judgment, bears the burden of showing that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that it is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Berner v. Caldwell, 543 So.2d 686, 688 (Ala.1989); Rule 56(c), A.R.Civ.P. Loma produced evidence of substantial changes to the saw after it sold the saw to Wolverine Tube Division (now Wolverine Tube, Inc.) in 1947. Adolph Nussbaum, a former president of Loma, inspected the saw on August 10, 1988. He stated in his deposition and affidavit that the saw had been altered in seven ways since the sale of the machine in 1947. Changes relevant to this case include (1) a new billet feed conveyor system, (2) modification of the original saw blade guard, increasing the exposed part of the blade from 15 to 30 inches, and (3) addition of a splash guard, which prevents saw lubricant from spraying on the operator, and which, according to Nussbaum, also serves to help protect the operator of the saw from contact with the saw. The first two changes were made before Burkett's injury on March 14, 1986. It is not known who made the first two changes or when those changes were made other than that they had been made prior to Burkett's injury. The splash guard was added to the saw at some time after the injury. Exactly who at Wolverine added the splash guard is not known. Loma contends that the modification of the original saw blade guard, increasing the exposed area of the blade, and the implementation of the new feed conveyor system, requiring the use of a metal bar to move the billet into place, were substantial changes. Because of these alterations by Wolverine, Loma claims that a splash guard was needed in order for the saw to be safely operated. Because of this evidentiary showing by Loma of substantial change, the burden shifts to Burkett to establish a genuine issue of material fact. Berner, 543 So.2d at 688 (quoting Schoen v. Gulledge, 481 So.2d 1094, 1096-97 (Ala.1985)). Burkett argues that there were no substantial changes and that his injury would have occurred regardless of the alterations made by Wolverine, because of defects in the saw as manufactured. Specifically, Burkett claims in his answers to interrogatories that the blade was inadequately guarded, that the control panel was not as informative as it should have been, and that warnings should have been attached to the saw. Even though these answers were not formally submitted in opposition to Loma's summary judgment motion, the court may consider all evidence of record when ruling on a summary judgment motion. Fountain v. Phillips, 404 So.2d 614, 618 (Ala. 1981); A.R.Civ.P. 56(c). However, the material must be admissible evidence. Ray v. Montgomery, 399 So.2d 230, 232 (Ala.1980). Burkett's lay opinion as to the ultimate issue of proximate cause is not admissible evidence. Mathews v. Mathews, 428 So.2d 51, 57 (Ala.Civ.App.1982), cert. denied, 428 So.2d 58 (Ala.1983), C. Gamble McElroy's Alabama Evidence, § 127.01(3) (3d ed. 1977). Burkett offered, in opposition to Loma's summary judgment motion, the affidavit of his expert witness, Gerald C. Rennell. Rennell stated his opinion that the saw was defective because it did not have a blade brake, was not guarded in accord with standard B11.10-1974 of the American National Standard Institute (ANSI), and did not have a blade guard preventing contact with the blade in all of the blade's positions, and that adequate warning was not given of the saw's dangers. Rennell's opinion is also inadmissible because it does not meet the requirements of Rule 56(e), A.R.Civ.P. That Rule requires that affidavits offered in opposition to summary judgment motions must be based on personal knowledge, must set forth admissible facts, and must show affirmatively the competency of the affiant to testify as to the matters stated. Rennell's affidavit does not show that he had any personal knowledge of the condition of the saw. (Loma's expert witness, Adolph Nussbaum, stated in his affidavit that his testimony was based on personal knowledge and that he had inspected the saw.) Also, Rennell's affidavit does not show affirmatively his competency to testify. His resume, attached to supplemental answers to interrogatories that were also filed in opposition to Loma's summary judgment motion, shows his experience with machinery and his experience in regard to machinery safety, but does not show that he has any familiarity with the particular saw that injured Burkett. Thus, all evidence offered by Burkett in opposition to Loma's contention that the saw had undergone a substantial change is inadmissible, and the court must, accordingly, consider Loma's evidence to be uncontroverted. The summary judgment in favor of Loma Machine Manufacturing, Inc., is, therefore, affirmed.