Court Opinion

ID: 9696111
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 18:36:49.106023+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:18.698489
License: Public Domain

ORIE MELVIN, J.,
concurring.
¶ 1 While I concur with the Majority’s resolution of the first issue raised in this appeal, I write separately to address the issue regarding the introduction of misuse evidence, as it will invariably arise upon retrial.
¶ 2 In a products liability action a plaintiff must prove: (1) the product was defective and (2) the defect was a substantial factor in causing the injury. Charlton v. Toyota Industrial Equipment, 714 A.2d 1043, 1046 (Pa.Super.1998). Our Supreme Court has refused to permit the introduction of negligence concepts in a strict products liability action. Kimco Development v. Michael D’s Carpet, 536 Pa. 1, 7-9, 637 A.2d 603, 606-607 (1993); Jara v. Rexworks Inc., 718 A.2d 788, 793 (Pa.Super.1998), appeal denied, 558 Pa. 620, 737 A.2d 743 (1999). However, a plaintiffs use of a product is relevant as it relates to causation. Childers v. Power Line Equipment Rentals, 452 Pa.Super. 94, 681 A.2d 201, 207 (1996), appeal denied, 547 Pa. 735, 690 A.2d 236 (1997). Specifically, a defendant may introduce evidence a plaintiff voluntarily assumed the risk or misused *697the product. Id.; Robinson v. B.F. Goodrich Tire Co., 444 Pa.Super. 640, 664 A.2d 616 (1995), appeal denied, 543 Pa. 694, 670 A.2d 142 (1996). In addition, a defendant may introduce evidence the plaintiff engaged in reckless conduct to defeat a products liability claim. Madonna v. Harley Davidson Inc., 708 A.2d 507 (Pa.Super.1998). In asserting a misuse defense the defendant must establish the use of the product employed by the plaintiff was unforeseeable or outrageous. Childers, 681 A.2d at 207.
¶ 3 In the instant case, the trial court permitted the Appellee to assert a misuse defense to establish Appellant’s conduct was the sole cause of her injury and was not related in any way to a product defect. I find the trial court’s ruling resulted in the misapplication of the misuse defense, where here, the evidence did not establish the Appellant used the product in an unforeseeable and outrageous manner.
¶ 4 The evidence adduced at trial reveals the Appellant was sitting on the front portion of her chair with her legs wrapped around the base or spindle of the chair when she reached down to retrieve a pen. Although the Appellant did not have her feet placed directly on the floor in front of her, it strains credulity to conclude that at the time of the incident the Appellant was using the chair for something other than its intended purpose, which is sitting. Contributory negligence of a consumer is not a defense in a products liability case nor can it be interpreted at trial. The fact finder cannot compare the negligence of the user with the strict liability of the manufacturer and thus, under the facts of this case, the Appellant’s conduct was not an unreasonable misuse of the chair. I recognize the issue of whether conduct involved in misuse is foreseeable is generally a question for the jury. Dougherty v. Edward J. Meloney, Inc., 443 Pa.Super. 201, 661 A.2d 375, 386 (1995), appeal denied, 544 Pa. 608, 674 A.2d 1072 (1996). However, I believe the trial court herein should have precluded this particular evidence of misuse because no two reasonable minds could fail to agree that the Appellant’s use of the product in question was clearly proper and foreseeable. See Kramer v. Raymond Corporation, 840 F.Supp. 333 (E.D.Pa.1993) (holding evidence of plaintiffs alleged misuse for failing to look in direction of travel and keep foot inside operating compartment of forklift properly precluded when conduct could not be described as abnormal).
¶ 5 Accordingly, I believe, where as here, the alleged “misuse” is clearly and reasonably foreseeable and not outrageous, the trial court should have precluded its admission into evidence as a matter of law.
¶ 6 MUSMANNO, J., joins both Concurring Opinion by ORIE MELVIN, J. and Opinion by BROSKY, J.