Court Opinion

ID: 9674515
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:30:09.405161+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:27.913703
License: Public Domain

PREWITT, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. I would follow Kelley v. R.G. Industries, Inc., 304 Md. 124, 497 A.2d 1143 (1985). I do not agree that the “end result” of finding such a cause of action “is to fasten strict liability upon the manufacturer and vendor of a lawful product because it is determined by an appellate court that the misuse of such a product outweighs its social value.” The basis of Kelley is the almost sure knowledge of those who sell Saturday Night Specials “that the chief use of the product is for criminal activity.” 497 A.2d at 1159.
The pleadings here allege a weapon that has not only the possibility of misuse, but a weapon where its manufacturer knows that its probable use is for improper and dangerous purposes. Many products such as alcohol, firearms and automobiles are often misused, but they are not designed and sold knowing that the majority of instances of use will be improper. According to the petition on which this case must be determined, the handgun used to shoot plaintiff had little, if any legitimate use, and a probable illegal use. Seeking to profit by helping create such activity should also create responsibility for the damages caused. A holding of potential liability here creates no danger to manufacturers or distributors of products which are legitimate but subject to improper use.
It is not unjust to have persons shot with “cheap” guns recover from the guns manufacturer when persons shot with other guns have no claim against the manufacturer. Because some persons shot with weapons may not be able to recover is no reason to deny recovery for those shot with weapons where the manufacturer knows that it is likely to be creating dangerous situations with little or no offsetting good. A manufacturer who placed such a product among the public “is certainly more at fault” than the innocent victim. Kelley, 497 A.2d at 1159.
Holding such a manufacturer liable would not be “judicial legislation” but the application of common law concepts to changes in society. It would allow the victims to recover from those that profit knowing that those profits are earned at the risk and expense of the innocent.
I respectfully dissent.