Court Opinion

ID: 9471760
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:40:26.214473+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:42:33.851199
License: Public Domain

MERRITT, Circuit Judge,
concurring.
Although the District Court’s failure to instruct on comparative negligence was error, as were the District Court’s rulings and *113instructions on misuse, I do not find the error to affect the “substantial rights of the parties” under Rule 61, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. We are admonished by the rule to “disregard any error or defect in the proceedings” below that is not substantial. The plaintiff’s case on liability is exceedingly weak. I can see no disputable issue for the jury to decide on either negligence or design defect. I do not believe that there is evidence from which a rational jury could find the defendant liable under either theory, negligence or strict liability, and therefore the errors committed by the District Court were harmless under Rule 61. I therefore agree with and concur in the Court’s disposition and add this separate opinion to explain more fully my reasons for voting to affirm.