Court Opinion

ID: 9672611
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:57:56.078112+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:17.453683
License: Public Domain

WRIGHT, Presiding Judge
(concurring in part, dissenting in part.)
I specially concur in part with the decision of the majority and respectfully dissent in part.
Though I concur with the majority that under the evidence in this case the question of the existence of an express warranty was for the jury, I do not agree with certain language used in arriving at the decision of the majority. I would hold that the response of appellant, Winston, to request for admissions was sufficient for the matter to go to the jury as to the existence of the warranty.
The discussion of the requirements of the Uniform Commercial Code for the creation of an express warranty by the majority, and the application of such requirements to the evidence in this case is inappropriate. I would hold that Winston was bound by its admission that its manufacturer’s warranty existed for the benefit of the purchaser. The principle of estoppel is applicable. I would not hold under the evidence in this case that an express warranty was created under Title 7A, Sec. 2-313, Uniform Commercial Code. The evidence is totally to the contrary.
The purchaser denied any knowledge of any warranty extended by the manufacturer. I am unable to determine how a warranty can be created without knowledge of its existence by the purchaser. Creation of an express warranty requires affirmation of fact or promise by the seller to the buyer relating to the goods, which affirmation or promise becomes part of the basis of the bargain. Such affirmation or promise must be made known to the purchaser if it is to form any basis for the bargain. Without communication in some form there can be no affirmation or promise nor can such be said to be any consideration or inducement to the purchaser for entering the bargain. An express warranty is a contract and its creation is determined by the law of contracts. An uncommunicated affirmation of fact or promise cannot be a part of a contract or form any basis for the entering into the contract. The fact that the manufacturer intends to extend a warranty to every purchaser may create a moral obligation but unless the purchaser knows of the extending or at least of the policy of extending, he could not have considered it in entering into the bargain for the purchase of the goods. If such is determined to be the law of warranty, there would be a requirement of nullification or denial of a warranty by the seller or manufacturer rather than affirmation of fact or promise.
It is with some trepidation that I concur with the majority in its decision that there was sufficient evidence of an express warranty, but I do not concur that the evidence is sufficient to create such warranty under Title 7A, Sec. 2-313, Uniform Commercial Code.
I cannot agree with the majority that the evidence established that there was a defect in the manufacture or design of the product.
*533The evidence presented was that after purchasing the mobile home, it was delivered to the purchaser by the dealer in Mississippi. It was picked up by the dealer from the manufacturer and transported a substantial distance over the highways to the place designated by the purchaser. There it was “set up” by the dealer. The dealer connected it with its water and electrical supply and presumably with sewer connection. Purchaser moved in and resided therein for about six weeks. During this time there was no problem with the particular water pipe which was later found to be loose and leaking. It was used and worked properly.
Purchaser became ill and was hospitalized some 200 miles away. His wife spent part time with him and part in the mobile home for several days. Upon leaving the hospital and returning home, purchaser found the home to have flooded at some time since it was last occupied by his wife. Examination disclosed a loose connection of a copper pipe attached to a lavatory. This apparently was the source of the flooding. The leak was repaired by the purchaser. He testified that he did not know why the pipe became loose. Neither he, nor any witness, testified as to any material fault or fault of design. He merely found a connection loose from some unknown cause.
Manufacturer presented testimony that during several nights immediately preceding the flooding there had been temperatures 10 or more degrees below freezing in the area of the home. It was further shown by a qualified witness that water pipes in trailers were susceptible to easy freezing, particularly when unoccupied with the heat unregulated. It was shown that the type connection involved would pull loose if the water in the pipe froze.
The burden of proof to establish a breach of a manufacturer’s warranty is upon the buyer. 99 ALR2d 1419, 63 Am.Jur.2d Sec. 98, Products Liability. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur does not apply in an action for breach of warranty. Gardner v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 267 Minn. 505, 127 N.W.2d 557; United States Rubber Co. v. Baur, 8 Cir., 319 F.2d 463. The burden is on the buyer to show that there was defective material or workmanship within the scope of the warranty and such defect existed at the time the product left the custody of the manufacturer. Shramek v. General Motors Corp., Chevrolet Motor Div., 69 Ill.App.2d 72, 216 N.E.2d 244; Dufon v. Wilbur Curtis Co., 425 F.2d 1294, (6th Cir. 1969).
The mere proof that a fitting comes loose and leaks after the product has been delivered and used for a period of time does not alone establish a presumption or inference of a defect in manufacture. Wear v. Chenault Motor Company, Inc., 52 Ala.App. 382, 293 So.2d 298; Eversmeyer v. Chrysler Corp., 192 So.2d 845 (La.App.). Such was the only proof presented in this case. The jury could not presume or speculate as to the existence of a defect in manufacture, especially when evidence was presented of a plausible cause of the leak.
It was said in Southworth, Admx. v. Shea, 131 Ala. 419, 30 So. 774, and quoted in Southern Railway Co. v. Dickson, 211 Ala. 481, 100 So. 665, as follows:
“Proof which goes no further than to show an injury could have occurred in an alleged way, does not warrant the conclusion that it did so occur, where from the same proof the injury can with equal probability be attributed to some other cause.”
Under the evidence presented by plaintiff in this case there was mere proof that a pipe was loose and leaked. Why it came loose and leaked was left solely to conjecture by the jury. There was no evidence of failure of materials, workmanship or design. Liability under such proof is at best founded upon res ipsa loquiter and at worse makes the manufacturer an insurer.
I would reverse and remand.