Lopez v. Delta Power Equipment Corporation et al

Filing 15

ORDER GRANTING 11 Motion for Summary Judgment; DENYING AS MOOT 13 Motion for Protective Order. Any and all pending Motions are DENIED as MOOT. Signed by Judge David C Guaderrama. (mc4)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS EL PASO DIVISION ISMAEL LOPEZ, § § Plaintiff, § DELTA POWER EQUIPMENT CORP., and DELTA MACHINE CO., INC., § § § § § Defendants. § § v EP-14-CV-00362-DCG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Presently before the Court is Defendant DeltaPower Equipment Corporation's ("Defendant") Motion for Summary Judgment ("Motion") (ECF No. 11), filed on April 17, 2015. As of the date of this Order, Plaintiff Ismael Lopez ("Plaintiff) has not filed a response to Defendant's Motion.1 After careful consideration of the Motion and the applicable law, the Court enters the following order. I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff filed an Original Petition in the 171st District Court in El Paso County, Texas, on July 11, 2014. See Notice ofRemoval, Ex. 4 at 5.2 In it, Plaintiff alleges that on orabout August 23,2012, Plaintiff severed his left middle and index fingers while attempting to saw wood with a table power saw (the "subject power saw") manufactured and put in the stream of commerce by 1Plaintiffhad until May4, 2015, to file a response to Defendant's Motion. See Local Court Rule CV-7(e)(2); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(d). Accordingly, the Court considers Defendant's Motion as unopposed. See Local Court Rule CV-7(e)(2). 2The Court citesto the ECF pagination throughout this Order rather than the pagination in Defendant's exhibits. Defendants.3 See id, Ex. 4 at 6. Plaintiff pleads two causes of action under Texas lawarising from this incident: strict products liability and negligence. See id, Ex. 4 at 6-7. On September 26,2014, Defendant removed Plaintiffsaction to this Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sections 1332 and 1446.4 Defendant filed the instant Motion on April 17, 2015. II. LEGAL STANDARD Summary judgment is appropriate when "the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant isentitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). "A genuine dispute of fact exists when evidence is sufficient for a reasonable jury to return a verdict for the non-moving party, and a fact is material if it might affect the outcomeof the suit." Willis v. Cleco Corp., 749 F.3d 314, 317 (5th Cir. 2014) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). "A party seeking summary judgment always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of the record which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." EEOC v. LHC Group, Inc., 113 F.3d 688, 694 (5th Cir. 2014) (quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, All U.S. 317, 323 (1986)). If the moving party meets this initial burden, "the onus shifts to 'the nonmoving party to go beyond the pleadings and by her own affidavits, or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'" Id. (quoting Celotex Corp., All U.S. at 324). The Court 3Plaintiffnames Defendant and Delta Machine Co., Inc. ("Delta Machine") as defendants in this lawsuit. Plaintiff, however, never effected service on Delta Machine, which appears to be a non-existent entity. See Notice of Removal 2. The Court therefore dismisses Plaintiffs claims against Delta Machine without prejudice for failure to effect service. See Williams v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 504 F. Supp. 2d 176, 196 n.13 (S.D. Tex. 2007) (citing Nagle v. Lee, 807 F.2d 435, 438 (5th Cir. 1987)), ajf'd, 269 F. App'x 523 (5th Cir. 2008) (per curiam). 4Plaintiff did notchallenge the timeliness of Defendant's removal within the time provided in 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). -2- must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party. Id. (quoting Turner v. Baylor Richardson Med. Ctr., 476 F.3d 337, 343 (5th Cir. 2007)). III. DISCUSSION Defendant moves for summary judgment because it "did not design, manufacture, market or sell the subject [power saw]." Mot. 1. Indeed, Defendant avers that it did not come into existence until December 2010, more than nine years after the manufacturing date of the subject power saw. See id. Because this is a diversity action, the Court must look to Texas law governing Plaintiffs causes of action. See Day v. Wells Fargo Bank Nat 7Ass 'n, 768 F.3d 435, 436 (5th Cir. 2014) (citing Erie R.R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938)). To prove Defendant's liability under Texas law, Plaintiffmust show that Defendant's actions or omissions caused his injuries.5 Here, there is no genuine issue ofmaterial fact regarding this element of Plaintiffs causes of action, and Defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. A, Plaintiffs Causes ofAction "In Texas, a plaintiff can predicate a products liability action on one or more of at least three theories of recovery: (1) strict liability under Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A, (2) breachof warranty under the [Uniform Commercial Code], and (3) negligence." Syrie v. Knoll Intern., 748 F.2d 304, 306 (5th Cir. 1984) (quoting Duncan v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 665 S.W.2d 414,423 (Tex. 1984)); accord Romo v. Ford Motor Co., 798 F. Supp. 2d 798, 805 (S.D. Tex. 2011). Plaintiff has opted to sue under the first and third of these theories: strict liability and negligence. See Notice of Removal, Ex. 4 at 6-7. To prove his allegations under a strict liability 5Technically, strict liability requires a showing of producing cause and negligence requires a showing of proximate cause, but the distinction between the two is not significant here. See Flock v. Scripto-Tokai Corp., 319 F.3d 231, 238 (5th Cir. 2003) (noting that, in Texas, a showing of producing cause is necessary for recovery in a products liability case); IHS Cedars Treatment Ctr. ofDesoto, Tex., Inc. v. Mason, 143 S.W.3d 794, 798-99 (Tex. 2003) (noting that establishing a negligence cause of action includes showing damages proximately caused by the breach of duty). theory, Plaintiff must show that: (1) the subject power saw was defective; (2) the defect rendered the subject power saw unreasonably dangerous; (3) the subject power saw reached Plaintiff, as the ultimate consumer, without substantial change in its condition from the time of the original sale; and (4) thesubject power sawwas the producing cause of Plaintiffs injuries. See McLennan v. Am. Eurocopter Corp., Inc., 245 F.3d 403, 427 (5th Cir. 2001) (citing Syrie, 748 F.2d at 306); Davis v. Conveyor-Matic Inc., 139 S.W.3d 423, 429 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2004, no pet.) (citing Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A (1965); Firestone Steel Prods. Co. v. Barajas, 927 S.W.2d 608, 613 (Tex. 1996)). "To incur liability [under this theory], a defendant does not haveto actually sell the product; introducing the product into channels of commerce is enough." FirestoneSteel Prods. Co., 927 S.W.2d at 613. "While strict liability focuses on the condition of the product, 'negligence looks at the acts of the manufacturer and determines if it exercised ordinary care in design and production.'" Am. Tobacco Co., Inc. v. Grinnell, 951 S.W.2d 420,437 (Tex. 1997) (quoting Caterpillar, Inc. v. Shears, 911 S.W.2d 379, 384 (Tex. 1995)); accord Romo, 798 F. Supp. 2d at 807. However, a necessary element of both causes of action—one Defendant argues Plaintiff cannot prove—is that Defendant's acts or omissions caused Plaintiffs injuries. See Romo, 798 F. Supp. 2d at 807 (citing Brown v. Edwards Transfer Co., Inc., 16A S.W.2d 220, 223 (Tex. 1988)); Kallassy v. Cirrus Design Corp., No. CIV. A. 3:04-CV-0727N, 2006 WL 1489248, at *5 (N.D. Tex. May 30,2006) ("Under either negligence or strict liability theories, plaintiffs are required to prove causation." (citing Horakv. Pullman, Inc., 16A F.2d 1092, 1095 (5th Cir. 1985))), affd, 265 F. App'x 165 (5th Cir. 2008). B. Undisputed Facts6 Defendant did not design, manufacture, market, or sell the subject power saw. Mot., Ex. 1U2, Ex. 2 at 5. Defendant was incorporated on December 16, 2010 in the state ofSouth Carolina. Id, Ex. 1K8, Ex. 2 at4-9. The subject power saw, however, was manufactured in May 2001 by Delta International Machinery Corp. ("Delta International"). Id, Ex. 11fl| 3-4, Ex. 2 at 4-5. DeltaInternational is a Minnesota corporation and a subsidiary of Black & Decker, Inc. Id, Ex. 1H5, Ex. 2 at 5. When the subject power saw was manufactured, Delta International was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pentair Tool & Equipment Group in Jackson, Tennessee. Id., Ex. 1K7, Ex. 2 at 5. Defendant has never acquired any other entity and it did not acquire Delta International. Id, Ex. 1% Ex. 2 at 6. Similarly, Defendant has never 12, acquired orassumed liability related to products liability issues and/or personal injury claims for products soldpriorto Defendant's incorporation. Id., Ex. 1112, Ex. 2 at 6. C. The Parties' Respective Burdens The Court finds that Defendant has met its burden, on a motion for summary judgment, of showing the absence of a genuine issue of material fact regarding a necessary element of Plaintiffs causes of action; namely, whetherDefendant caused, proximately or otherwise, Plaintiffs injuries. See LHC Group, Inc., 113 F.3d at 694 (stating that a party seeking summary judgment bears the initial burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine issue of material fact). Once the moving party meets this initial burden, "the onus shifts to 'the nonmoving party to ... designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.'" Id. (quoting Celotex Corp., All U.S. at 324). Plaintiffneverresponded to Defendant's Motion and has thus 6Pursuantto Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(e),the Court considers Defendant's proposed facts undisputed for purposes of the instant Motion. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)(2). failed to meet its burden under Rule 56.7 The Court therefore finds that Plaintiff cannot make the required showing against Defendant to support the causation element in either the negligence or strict liability causes ofaction. Defendant is thus entitled to judgment as a matter oflaw. See, e.g., Kallassy, 2006 WL 1489248, at *8 (granting summary judgment in negligence and strict products liability case where plaintiff could not prove causation); Harris v. Nat 7Passenger R.R. Corp., 79 F. Supp. 2d 673, 676, 678 (E.D. Tex. 1999) (same), affdsub nom. Harris v. S. Pac. Tramp. Co., 234 F.3d 707 (5th Cir. 2000) (per curiam). IV. CONCLUSION Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant DeltaPower Equipment Corporation's Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 11) is GRANTED. IT IS ALSO ORDERED that Plaintiff Ismael Lopez's claims against Defendant Delta Machine Co., Inc., are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED the Clerk of the Court shall TERMINATE all named Defendants in the above-captioned case. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that any and all pending motions are DENIED as MOOT. IT IS LASTLY ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court SHALL CLOSE this case. So ORDERED and SIGNED this 2f* day of May, 2015. YD C. GUADERRAMA UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 7Notably, Plaintiffjoined in a motion for the entry of a confidentiality and protective order filed on May 14, 2015, while Defendant's Motion was pending. See Confidentiality and Protective Order 1, 11, ECF No. 13. -6-

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