Duval et al v. Delta International Machinery Corp.
Filing
56
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER re: 32 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Delta International Machinery Corp. For the reasons set forth above, Delta's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. A jury trial on the remaining claims will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2015. The parties must submit a joint pretrial order and the other pretrial materials outlined in the Court's Individual Rule 5 no later than September 21, 2015. Any motions in limine must also be filed by September 21, 2015. As outlined in the Court's Individual Rule 5(B)(i), if any motions in limine are filed, opposition papers are due within seven days, or by September 28, 2015; and reply papers are due within four days of the date of service of the opposition papers, or no later than October 2, 2015. The Court will hold a pretrial conference on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. to discuss the parties' pretrial submissions and, if necessary, to hear oral argument and potentially rule on any motions in limine. The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate the motion pending at docket number 32. (As further set forth in this Order.) (Jury Trial set for 10/26/2015 at 09:00 AM before Judge Gregory H . Woods. Pretrial Conference set for 10/7/2015 at 04:00 PM before Judge Gregory H. Woods.) (Motions due by 9/21/2015. Pretrial Order due by 9/21/2015. Responses due by 9/28/2015, Replies due by 10/2/2015.) (Signed by Judge Gregory H. Woods on 7/27/2015) (kko)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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:
:
RICARDO DUVAL and ANGELA
JIMENEZ,
:
:
Plaintiffs, :
:
-against:
:
DELTA INTERNATIONAL MACHINERY :
:
CORP.,
:
Defendant. :
:
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USDC SDNY
DOCUMENT
ELECTRONICALLY FILED
DOC #: _________________
DATE FILED: 7/27/2015
1:13-cv-4270-GHW
MEMORANDUM OPINION
AND ORDER
GREGORY H. WOODS, United States District Judge:
I.
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiffs Ricardo Duval and his wife Angela Jimenez seek damages stemming from an injury
Mr. Duval suffered at work. In October 2012, Mr. Duval was cutting several large pieces of plastic
at his former place of employment, third-party defendant Gotham City Industries, Inc., on a table
saw manufactured by defendant Delta International Machinery Corp. As Mr. Duval was cutting his
third piece of plastic, it slipped, and his hand hit the unguarded blade, amputating his fingers on
contact.
Before the Court is Delta’s motion for summary judgment. For the reasons outlined below,
the motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
II.
BACKGROUND
A. Procedural History
Plaintiffs originally filed this case in state court against both Delta and Gotham. When
plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their claims against Gotham, Delta removed the case to this Court on
the basis of this Court’s diversity jurisdiction. See Notice of Removal, Dkt. No. 1. Delta later filed a
third-party complaint against Gotham for contribution and indemnity, and Gotham answered and
filed counterclaims against Delta.
At the close of discovery, Delta filed this motion for summary judgment. Plaintiffs filed
opposition papers, Gotham filed a notice that it would not oppose Delta’s motion, and Delta filed
reply papers.
B. Facts 1
Mr. Duval began working at Gotham as a carpenter on October 3, 2012. He had no prior
experience with, nor any prior training in, how to operate table saws or other power tools. Three
weeks after he was hired, on October 24, 2012, Mr. Duval was using Gotham’s table saw, a Delta
Unisaw, to cut large pieces of plastic. Gotham had not trained him in how to use or operate the
Unisaw. There was no blade guard, of any kind, on the Unisaw, and Mr. Duval was not using a
“slide box” or any other mechanism to hold the plastic straight while cutting it. As he was cutting
his third piece of plastic, the piece moved and pulled his fingers into contact with the Unisaw’s
blade, amputating his fingers. See Plaintiffs’ Memorandum of Law (“Plaintiffs’ Memo”), Dkt. No.
42, at p. 4 (citing Duval Deposition, Dkt. No. 43-7, at p. 43-46).
Todd Petre, a partner at Gotham, testified that Gotham acquired the Unisaw at issue here
sometime in 2008 or 2009, used, with no blade guard installed, and without the instruction manual
and safety placard that would normally come with a new Unisaw. 2 Between the time it acquired the
Unisaw and Mr. Duval’s accident, Gotham did not modify or make any changes to the Unisaw. The
parties agree that there is a warning label on the Unisaw, though they dispute its precise location on
Unless otherwise noted, facts are taken from the parties’ Local Rule 56.1 Statements of Undisputed Facts. See Dkt.
Nos. 35, 41, 49.
2 Plaintiffs dispute these facts because they question Mr. Petre’s credibility. See Dkt. No. 41 at ¶¶ 31-32. However, they
give no factual basis for doubting his credibility with regard to these issues and they offer no evidence which would cast
doubt on Mr. Petre’s statements. They do not dispute that a safety placard and instruction manual would have been
provided to the purchaser of a new Unisaw like this one. See Dkt. No. 41 at ¶ 28.
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the machine. Both parties provided photos of the warning label and they agree that, prior to the
incident, Mr. Duval knew that there were warnings posted on the front of the Unisaw.
Delta manufactured the Unisaw at issue—a “Delta 10-inch Tilting Arbor Unisaw,” model
number 34-806—in February of 1989. The parties agree that if the Unisaw had been purchased new
from Delta, it would have included a “3-in-1” blade guard 3 as a standard accessory. The 3-in-1
guard consists of three parts: a splitter, anti-kickback pawls, and a clear plastic blade cover. It can be
used for all “through cuts,” those where the user is cutting all the way through a piece of material,
slicing it into two pieces. It cannot be used for non-through cuts, where the user is only cutting
partway through the material. If a user is performing a non-through cut, she need not fully remove
the 3-in-1 guard from the Unisaw; it can instead be “loosened and swung behind the machine.” 4
Winter Deposition, Dkt. No. 54-22, at p. 75-76. However, removing the 3-in-1 guard is relatively
easy—Delta’s representative testified in his deposition that it requires only a screwdriver and takes 12 minutes. See Nickels Deposition, Dkt. No. 54-18, at p. 19.
There is another type of blade guard relevant to this case: an overarm guard. Overarm
guards can accommodate more types of cuts than 3-in-1 guards, and Delta agrees with plaintiffs that
they can be left on the Unisaw “[f]or a majority of non-through cuts.” Delta’s Memorandum of Law
(“Delta’s Memo”), Dkt. No. 34, at p. 9 (citing Nickels Deposition at 66). Both sides agree that
overarm guards, including one manufactured by Delta called the “Delta Uniguard,” were on the
market and available both prior to and at the time the Unisaw at issue was manufactured in 1989.
The parties agree that Mr. Duval was making cross-cuts, a type of through cut, when he was
injured. Both the 3-in-1 guard and the overarm guard are designed to remain in place when making
through cuts, thus both types of guards could have accommodated the cuts Mr. Duval was making
The parties and their experts also refer to the 3-in-1 guard as a “combination” or “splitter mounted” guard.
Plaintiffs dispute this. See Dkt. No. 41 at ¶ 30. But their own expert, Mr. Winter, testified that this was true of the 3-in1 guard, see Dkt. No. 54-22 at p. 75, and they offer no evidence to the contrary.
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when he was injured. The parties agree that if there had been an overarm guard on the Unisaw at
the time of Mr. Duval’s accident, his injury would not have occurred. Plaintiffs’ expert also agrees
with Delta that if there had been a 3-in-1 guard on the Unisaw at the time of Mr. Duval’s accident,
his injury would not have occurred. See Winter Deposition at 65.
III.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD
Delta is entitled to summary judgment only if it can “show[ ] that there is no genuine dispute
as to any material fact and [it] is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); see
also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986) (“[S]ummary judgment is proper ‘if the
pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the
affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving
party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.’” (quoting former Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c))). A
genuine dispute exists where “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for
the nonmoving party,” while a fact is material if it “might affect the outcome of the suit under
governing law.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
To defeat this motion for summary judgment, plaintiffs “must come forward with ‘specific
facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio
Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986) (quoting former Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)). “[M]ere speculation or
conjecture as to the true nature of the facts” will not suffice. Hicks v. Baines, 593 F.3d 159, 166 (2d
Cir. 2010) (citations and internal quotations omitted). Plaintiffs “must do more than simply show
that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586.
In determining whether there exists a genuine dispute as to a material fact, the Court is
“required to resolve all ambiguities and draw all permissible factual inferences in favor of the party
against whom summary judgment is sought.” Johnson v. Killian, 680 F.3d 234, 236 (2d Cir. 2012)
(citing Terry v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 128, 137 (2d Cir. 2003)). The Court’s job is not to “weigh the
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evidence or resolve issues of fact.” Lucente v. Int’l Bus. Machines Corp., 310 F.3d 243, 254 (2d Cir.
2002). Rather, the Court must decide whether a rational juror could find in favor of the plaintiffs.
Id.
IV.
ANALYSIS
A. Design Defect Claim
Plaintiffs claim that the Unisaw at issue was defectively designed. Under New York law, “[a]
defectively designed product is one which, at the time it leaves the seller’s hands, is in a condition
not reasonably contemplated by the ultimate consumer and is unreasonably dangerous for its
intended use, and whose utility does not outweigh the danger inherent in its introduction into the
stream of commerce.” Hoover v. New Holland N. Am., Inc., 23 N.Y.3d 41, 53-54 (2014) (quoting Voss
v. Black & Decker Mfg. Co., 59 N.Y.2d 102, 107 (1983)) (internal alteration and quotation marks
omitted). The question in a design defect case is “whether the product as designed was ‘not
reasonably safe’—that is, whether it is a product which, if the design defect were known at the time
of manufacture, a reasonable person would conclude that the utility of the product did not outweigh
the risk inherent in marketing a product designed in that manner.” Voss, 59 N.Y.2d at 108; see also
Cover v. Cohen, 61 N.Y.2d 261, 266-67 (1984) (similar formulation).
Plaintiffs bring design defect claims under both strict liability and negligence theories. In
Denny v. Ford Motor Co., the New York Court of Appeals quoted with approval a commenter’s
observation that “in general, the strict liability concept of ‘defective design’ is functionally
synonymous with the earlier negligence concept of unreasonable designing.” 87 N.Y.2d 248, 258
(1995) (internal alterations omitted). Although this statement was dicta, see Jarvis v. Ford Motor Co.,
283 F.3d 33, 63 (2d Cir. 2002), the New York Court of Appeals has since made it clear that “the
[design defect] standards set forth in Voss apply to both” strict liability and negligence claims. Adams
v. Genie Indus., Inc., 14 N.Y.3d 535, 543 (2010). Under both theories of liability, “[t]he decisive
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question is whether plaintiff has produced enough evidence for a jury to find that [the
manufacturer]’s product . . . was ‘not reasonably safe’ as Voss defines the term.” Id. Thus, at the
summary judgment stage, plaintiffs must “come forward with specific facts showing that there is a
genuine issue for trial” on the question of whether the product was not reasonably safe. See
Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587.
i. Elements of a Design Defect Claim
To show that a product was not reasonably safe and thus defectively designed, plaintiffs
must show that: “(1) the product as designed posed a substantial likelihood of harm; (2) it was
feasible to design the product in a safer manner; and (3) the defective design was a substantial factor
in causing plaintiff’s injury.” Colon ex rel. Molina v. BIC USA, Inc., 199 F. Supp. 2d 53, 83 (S.D.N.Y.
2001) (citing Voss, 59 N.Y.2d at 108).
Plaintiffs argue that the Unisaw as designed posed a substantial likelihood of harm because
the 3-in-1 guard was likely to be removed by users. Plaintiffs’ expert opined that the 3-in-1 guard “is
often taken off the saw and discarded by operators.” Winter Report, Dkt. No. 54-21, at p. 12. He
concluded that “[b]y furnishing the saw with [the 3-in-1] guard, Delta increased the likelihood that it
would be removed and separated from the saw. This created the dangerous unguarded condition of
the Unisaw which injured Duval.” Id. at 17. As discussed in more detail below, “New York courts
have held that ‘where a product is purposefully manufactured to permit its use without a key safety
feature, it is for the jury to determine the scope of the product’s intended purposes and whether the
product was reasonably safe when placed in the stream of commerce.” Gould v. Rexon Indus. Corp.,
No. 3:05-cv-374 (TJM) (DEP), 2006 WL 2301852, at *3 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 8, 2006) (quoting O’Bara v.
Piekos, 161 A.D.2d 1118, 1119 (4th Dep’t 1990)) (internal alterations omitted). Delta admits that the
Unisaw can be used without the 3-in-1 guard, as the guard must be removed for non-through cuts.
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Thus, there is a triable question of fact as to whether the Unisaw’s design posed a substantial
likelihood of harm.
Plaintiffs argue that it was feasible to design the Unisaw in a safer manner. They claim that
rather than including 3-in-1 guards as standard accessories, Delta could have equipped Unisaws with
overarm guards. They argue that overarm guards would render the Unisaw safer because such
guards can accommodate more cuts and are thus less likely to be removed. Plaintiffs point out that
overarm guards were available at the time the Unisaw was manufactured, a point Delta does not
dispute. Plaintiffs’ expert concluded that “[t]he relatively low cost of the [overarm guard] and its
operating advantages relative to Delta’s standard [3-in-1] guard confirms that it was a feasible and
cost effective way to increase the safety of the Unisaw.” Winter Report at 17. Thus, there is a
triable question of fact as to whether the availability of the overarm guard made it feasible for Delta
to design the Unisaw in a safer manner.
Finally, plaintiffs must show proximate cause—that “the defect was a substantial factor in
causing plaintiff’s injury.” Voss, 59 N.Y.2d at 110; see also, e.g., Colon, 199 F. Supp. 2d at 83. Delta
argues that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the issue of proximate cause. First, Delta
asserts that because there was an intervening act of a third party when a prior owner or user
removed the guard from the Unisaw, plaintiffs cannot show that any alleged design defect was a
proximate cause of Mr. Duval’s injury. But “[w]hen, as is usually the case, circumstances permit
varying inferences as to the foreseeability of the intervening act, the proximate cause issue is a
question of fact for the jury.” Woodling v. Garrett Corp., 813 F.2d 543, 555-56 (2d Cir. 1987) (citing
Derdiarian v. Felix Contracting Corp., 51 N.Y.2d 308, 315 (1980)). Plaintiffs’ expert says in his report
that “[t]he woodworking industry, including Delta, is well aware that the [3-in-1] guard, is often
taken off the saw and discarded by operators.” Winter Report at 12. Thus, the usual case is the case
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here: plaintiffs have put forth evidence which permits varying inferences as to the foreseeability of
the 3-in-1 guard’s removal; therefore proximate cause is a question of fact for the jury.
Delta also asserts that because Gotham uses “slide boxes,” 5 which are incompatible with
both 3-in-1 and overarm guards, plaintiffs cannot show that an alleged design defect was a
proximate cause of Mr. Duval’s injury, because Gotham would have removed any guard that may
have been present on the Unisaw when they acquired it. Delta argues that the proximate cause of
Mr. Duval’s injury “was either plaintiff’s own conduct or Gotham’s failure to properly train, instruct,
and supervise plaintiff with regard to his work.” Delta’s Memo at 16. But, as discussed in more
detail below, “if a safety device is designed to be removed . . . a jury could find that it was the defective
design of the saw, and not the failure to have the blade guard in place [at the time of the injury], that
proximately caused plaintiff’s injury.” Guard Ins. Grp., Inc. v. Techtronic Indus. Co., No. 11-cv-6254L,
2015 WL 293622, at *4 (W.D.N.Y. Jan. 23, 2015) (citing LaPaglia v. Sears Roebuck and Co., 143 A.D.2d
173, 177 (2d Dep’t 1988); McGavin v. Herrick & Cowell Co., 118 A.D.2d 982, 983 (3d Dep’t 1986)).
Delta’s 3-in-1 guard was designed to be removed for certain cuts, thus, given the circumstances here,
it is for the jury to determine whether the alleged design defect—rather than or in addition to the
absence of the blade guard more generally—was a proximate cause of Mr. Duval’s injury.
ii. Substantial Modification Defense
Delta also raises a substantial modification defense, arguing that, under Robinson v. Reed–
Prentice Div. of Package Mach. Corp., it cannot be held liable because “a third party ma[de] post-sale
modifications that destroy[ed] the functional utility of the product’s safety feature”; thus, Delta
argues, it is “insulated from liability absent a showing that there was some defect in the design of the
A slide box, also referred to as a “sled,” “cross cutting sled,” or “box,” is described by the parties’ experts as: “a more
accurate miter gauge that better supports the work” and “has partial guarding capabilities,” Winter Deposition, Dkt. No.
54-22, at p. 55; something that “creates a barrier to the area of the saw blade,” Otterbein Deposition, Dkt. No. 54-26, at
p. 96; something used to “hold the work piece in place on the box in a position where it would be supported by a rail,”
id.
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safety feature at the time the product left the manufacturer’s hands.” Hoover, 23 N.Y.3d at 56-57
(quoting Robinson, 49 N.Y.2d 471, 480 (1980)).
But this is not a case where a third party modified a safety feature. In Robinson, the plaintiff’s
employer cut a hole in the machine’s safety gate to accommodate its production process,
“destroy[ing] the practical utility of the safety features incorporated into the design of the machine.”
49 N.Y.2d at 477; see also, e.g., Wick v. Wabash Holding Corp., 801 F. Supp. 2d 93, 99, 103-05
(W.D.N.Y. 2011) (finding substantial modification and thus applying Robinson where safety device
was removed from its original hinges and held on by a bungee cord, requiring a separate tool to
secure it in place); Wyda v. Makita Elec. Works, Ltd., 232 A.D.2d 407, 408 (2d Dep’t 1996) (finding
material alteration and thus applying Robinson where blade guard was held open “by placing a piece
of wood between the guard and the body of the saw”). But, “[i]f a safety device is designed to be
removed, even for limited, specified uses of the product, then the removal of the device may not
constitute a ‘material modification’ of the product.” Guard Ins. Grp., Inc., 2015 WL 293622, at *3; cf.
Darsan v. Guncalito, 153 A.D.2d 868, 870 (2d Dep’t 1989) (finding that “product was not
‘purposefully manufactured to permit its use without the safety guard’” and thus applying Robinson
where guard was “affixed to the machine with three fairly heavy rivets which would have to be
removed forcibly” and employer acknowledged it was “not readily removable”).
This is a case where a third party removed a safety feature that was designed to be
removable. Thus, this case falls under the holding of the New York Court of Appeals in Lopez v.
Precision Papers, Inc., 67 N.Y.2d 871 (1986), upholding the Second Department’s determination that
Robinson does not apply in such cases. The Second Department said:
Because of the ease with which the . . . guard could be removed and
the [product]’s added versatility when operated without the guard,
there is a legitimate jury question as to the scope of the [product]’s
intended purposes. In short, the jury must ascertain whether in light
of these factors, the manufacturer, given its resources and expertise,
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breached its duty by placing a product on the market that is not
reasonably safe.
Lopez v. Precision Papers, Inc., 107 A.D.2d 667, 669 (2d Dep’t 1985) aff’d, 67 N.Y.2d 871 (1986)
(internal citations omitted); see also Gaudette v. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp., No. 11-cv-932
(MAD) (RFT), 2014 WL 1311530, at *13 (N.D.N.Y. Mar. 28, 2014); Cacciola v. Selco Balers, Inc., 127 F.
Supp. 2d 175, 186 (E.D.N.Y. 2001) (“[U]nder the Lopez qualification of Robinson, there is a triable
issue of fact as to a design flaw when a product’s safety device is designed to be easily removed or
bypassed for a specific purpose.); Hart v. Hytrol Conveyor Co., 823 F. Supp. 87, 91 (N.D.N.Y. 1993);
Rios v. Rockwell Int’l Corp., 268 A.D.2d 279, 280 (1st Dep’t 2000); LaPaglia v. Sears Roebuck & Co., 143
A.D.2d 173, 177 (2d Dep’t 1988).
“[T]he point of Lopez . . . is that there are tradeoffs when a product’s safety mechanism is
not permanently affixed. That is, a product may be defectively designed if the removability of its
safety features, though providing increased utility, nonetheless makes the product unreasonably
dangerous.” Beltran v. Techtronic Indus. N. Am., Inc., No. 13-cv-5256 (RJD) (RER), 2015 WL 3651099,
at *5 (E.D.N.Y. June 11, 2015). Delta admits that the 3-in-1 guard is removable—and in fact must
be removed for certain types of cuts, which increases the Unisaw’s utility and versatility. Delta’s
representative testified in his deposition that removing the 3-in-1 guard requires only a screwdriver
and takes 1-2 minutes. See Nickels Deposition, Dkt. No. 54-18, at p. 19. Here, like in Lopez, the
“ease with which the . . . guard could be removed” and the Unisaw’s “added versatility when
operated without the guard” create a question for the jury. See 107 A.D.2d at 669.
The Court finds that the substantial modification defense established in Robinson is not
available to Delta at the summary judgment stage on the facts as presented here. Delta’s motion for
summary judgment on plaintiffs’ design defect claims is therefore DENIED.
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B. Failure to Warn Claim
Under New York law, “[a] plaintiff may recover in strict products liability for the
manufacturer’s failure to warn of the risks and dangers associated with the use of its product. That
duty generally extends to warning ultimate consumers of the dangers resulting from the foreseeable
use of the product.” Urena v. Biro Mfg. Co., 114 F.3d 359, 365-66 (2d Cir. 1997) (internal citations
omitted). “A manufacturer has a duty to warn against latent dangers resulting from foreseeable uses
of its product of which it knew or should have known” and “of the danger of unintended uses of a
product provided these uses are reasonably foreseeable.” Liriano v. Hobart Corp., 92 N.Y.2d 232, 237
(1998) (internal citation omitted). In addition, “[a] manufacturer . . . may . . . incur liability for failing
to warn concerning dangers in the use of a product which come to his attention after manufacture
or sale, through advancements in the state of the art, with which he is expected to stay abreast, or
through being made aware of later accidents involving dangers in the product of which warning
should be given to users.” Cover v. Cohen, 61 N.Y.2d 261, 274-75 (1984).
“Unlike design decisions that involve the consideration of many interdependent factors, the
inquiry in a duty to warn case is much more limited, focusing principally on the foreseeability of the
risk and the adequacy and effectiveness of any warning.” Liriano, 92 N.Y.2d at 239. This is because
“although it is virtually impossible to design a product to forestall all future risk-enhancing
modifications that could occur after the sale, it is neither infeasible nor onerous, in some cases, to
warn of the dangers of foreseeable modifications that pose the risk of injury.” Id. at 239-40.
Plaintiffs argue that the Unisaw’s warnings are inadequate for a variety of reasons, including
that the on-unit label was only in English, located below knee level, and “did not include alternatives
to the [3-in-1] blade guard when making a non through cut.” Plaintiffs’ Memo at 16. Delta argues
that its warnings were adequate, offering as proof photographs of the warning label, which show
that the label informs users to “Always Use Push Sticks for ‘Non-Thru’ Cuts and When Ripping
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Narrow Work,” and to “Always Use Fence When Ripping and Miter Gage When Cross-Cutting.”
See Photos, Dkt. Nos. 54-9 and 54-10. Delta also points to the instruction manual, which provides
instructions for setting up additional safety measures when performing cuts for which the blade
guard cannot be used. See Instruction Manual, Dkt. No. 54-16, at p. 19-21.
But “[t]he adequacy of the instruction or warning is generally a question of fact to be
determined at trial and is not ordinarily susceptible to the drastic remedy of summary judgment.”
Urena, 114 F.3d at 365-66 (quoting Beyrle v. Finneron, 199 A.D.2d 1022, 1023 (4th Dep’t 1993)); see
also Arbaiza v. Delta Int’l Mach. Corp., No. 96-cv-1224 (RJD), 1998 WL 846773, at *7 (E.D.N.Y. Oct.
5, 1998) (“The case law suggests strongly that the question of whether a particular warning was
adequate is a question of fact that should be left to the jury.”) (collecting cases). As the New York
Court of Appeals has held:
The nature of the warning to be given and to whom it should be given
likewise turn upon a number of factors, including the harm that may
result from use of the product without notice, the reliability and any
possible adverse interest of the person, if other than the user, to whom
notice is given, the burden on the manufacturer or vendor involved in
locating the persons to whom notice is required to be given, the
attention which it can be expected a notice in the form given will
receive from the recipient, the kind of product involved and the
number manufactured or sold, and the steps taken, other than the
giving of notice, to correct the problem. . . . Generally, the issue will
be one of fact for the jury whose function will be to assess the
reasonableness of the steps taken by the manufacturer or vendor in
light of the evidence concerning the factors listed above presented in
the particular case, as well as any expert testimony adduced on the
question.
Cover, 61 N.Y.2d at 276-77 (internal citations omitted).
The mere existence of the warnings identified by Delta is insufficient for the Court to decide
that, as a matter of law, Delta has discharged its duty to warn. It is for the jury to decide, taking into
account all the factors listed above, whether the warnings provided by Delta were adequate given the
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circumstances of this case. Delta’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ failure to warn claim
is DENIED.
C. Breach of Implied Warranty
To establish a breach of implied warranty claim based on a defective product, plaintiffs must
show that the Unisaw was not “fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used.” Denny
v. Ford Motor Co., 87 N.Y.2d 248, 258 (1995) (citing N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-314(2)(c)). This inquiry
“focuses on the expectations for the performance of the product when used in the customary, usual
and reasonably foreseeable manners.” Id. at 258-59. Breach of implied warranty is a cause of action
“involving true ‘strict’ liability, since recovery may be had upon a showing that the product was not
minimally safe for its expected purpose—without regard to the feasibility of alternative designs or
the manufacturer’s ‘reasonableness’ in marketing it in that unsafe condition.” Id. at 259; see also
Porrazzo v. Bumble Bee Foods, LLC, 822 F. Supp. 2d 406, 420-21 (S.D.N.Y. 2011) (“[I]n a breach of
implied warranty action, the inquiry is not whether there were safer designs available.”) (collecting
cases). Privity of contract is not required for a breach of implied warranty claim under New York
law. See Heller v. U.S. Suzuki Motor Corp., 64 N.Y.2d 407, 411 (1985) (citing N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-318).
Thus, plaintiffs’ breach of implied warranty claim requires proof that the Unisaw did not
meet performance expectations and that Mr. Duval’s use of the saw without a blade guard was at
least a reasonably foreseeable use. See Derienzo v. Trek Bicycle Corp., 376 F. Supp. 2d 537, 570
(S.D.N.Y. 2005). As noted above, plaintiffs have put forth evidence which permits varying
inferences as to the foreseeability that the blade guard would be removed. See Winter Report at 12
(“The woodworking industry, including Delta, is well aware that the [3-in-1] guard, is often taken off
the saw and discarded by operators.”). Thus, there is an issue of fact as to whether Mr. Duval’s use
of the Unisaw without a blade guard was a reasonably foreseeable use of the Unisaw. “Where there
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are questions about whether a product was being used in a reasonably foreseeable manner, summary
judgment is not appropriate.” Derienzo, 376 F. Supp. 2d at 570.
Delta’s motion for summary judgment on this claim is DENIED.
D. Other Claims
Plaintiffs also bring a claim based on an alleged manufacturing defect. In order “[t]o plead
and prove a manufacturing flaw under either negligence or strict liability, the plaintiff must show
that a specific product unit was defective as a result of some mishap in the manufacturing process
itself, improper workmanship, or because defective materials were used in construction, and that the
defect was the cause of plaintiff’s injury.” Colon ex rel. Molina v. BIC USA, Inc., 199 F. Supp. 2d 53,
85 (S.D.N.Y. 2001) (quoting Caprara v. Chrysler Corp., 52 N.Y.2d 114, 129 (1981)). Plaintiffs have put
forth no evidence in support of their manufacturing defect claim. Delta’s motion for summary
judgment on this claim is GRANTED.
And finally, plaintiffs bring claims for breach of an express warranty. “To establish the
breach of an express warranty, the plaintiff must show that there was an affirmation of fact or
promise by the seller, the natural tendency of which was to induce the buyer to purchase and that
the warranty was relied upon to the plaintiff’s detriment. The plaintiff must set forth the terms of
the warranty upon which he relied.” Barrett v. Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., No. 06-cv-1970 (SCR)
(MDF), 2008 WL 5170200, at *12 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 9, 2008). Plaintiffs have not produced any
evidence of an express warranty. Delta’s motion for summary judgment on this claim is
GRANTED.
V.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, Delta’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in
part and DENIED in part.
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A jury trial on the remaining claims will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2015.
The parties must submit a joint pretrial order and the other pretrial materials outlined in the Court’s
Individual Rule 5 no later than September 21, 2015. Any motions in limine must also be filed by
September 21, 2015. As outlined in the Court’s Individual Rule 5(B)(i), if any motions in limine are
filed, opposition papers are due within seven days, or by September 28, 2015; and reply papers are
due within four days of the date of service of the opposition papers, or no later than October 2,
2015. The Court will hold a pretrial conference on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. to
discuss the parties’ pretrial submissions and, if necessary, to hear oral argument and potentially rule
on any motions in limine.
The Clerk of Court is directed to terminate the motion pending at docket number 32.
SO ORDERED.
Dated: July 27, 2015
New York, New York
__________________________________
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________________
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GREGORY
GREGORY H. WOODS
GOR
United States District Judge
Judg
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