Court Opinion

ID: 9794824
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 03:12:25.920294+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:21:08.996515
License: Public Domain

Hunter, C. J.
(dissenting) — I dissent. There is evidence in the record to show that the product “Fast Flush” is inherently dangerous when coming into contact with the skin and eyes. The respondent manufacturer sells this product for the particular use of flushing radiators. The evidence further shows that when a person pours a substance into a radiator it will on occasions erupt into that person’s *99face unless he is standing back from the radiator. It is the duty of the manufacturer to warn the user to avoid this potential danger in the use of the product for which it was manufactured. The general rule stated in 76 A.L.R.2d at 16, adopted by this court in Callahan v. Keystone Fireworks Mfg. Co., 72 Wn.2d 823, 826, 435 P.2d 626, 630 (1967), is as follows:
The rule as to when a manufacturer or seller must warn (or, stated differently, when he will be held negligent if he fails to warn) is this: a manufacturer or seller of a product which, to his actual or constructive knowledge, involves danger to users has a duty to give warning of such danger.
The evidence showing a propensity of a radiator to erupt when a fluid is poured into it, coupled with the evidence of the inherently dangerous nature of “Fast Flush” when in contact with the skin and eyes, raises a question of fact as to the existence of a latent danger to an inexperienced layman foreseeable to the manufacturer. Here there is no question that the “Fast Flush” was put to its intended use, and there is at least a jury question as to whether a warning should have been given to the purchaser to stand back while using this product. 1 L. Frumer & M. Friedman, Products Liability, § 8.01 (1968) states:
The manufacturer’s duty is not just to use reasonable care in designing or manufacturing his product. There may be a duty to warn even though the product is perfectly made. Many cases apply the rule that the manufacturer is under the duty to adequately warn of foreseeable and latent dangers attendant upon proper and intended use of his product.
The majority states there was no evidence that the burn to the appellant’s eye was from the “Fast Flush” liquid; that it may have resulted from another substance which was in the radiator. This ignores the evidence that the eruption occurred shortly after the “Fast Flush” was poured into the radiator and that the product contained alkaline phosphate, admittedly dangerous as an irritant to the skin and eyes. To say that the injury to appellant’s eye was from other substances is pure speculation.
*100The issues .of appellant’s contributory negligence would hinge upon her knowledge of the potential danger of the radiator erupting when a substance is poured into it, and her failure to take immediate steps to treat the injury as warned. These are jury questions.
I would reverse the trial court’s order of dismissal by summary judgment and remand the case for trial.