Bourke v. Man Engines & Components, Inc.

303 F. Supp. 3d 227
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedMarch 28, 2018
DocketCASE NO. 3:14cv843(DFM)
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 303 F. Supp. 3d 227 (Bourke v. Man Engines & Components, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bourke v. Man Engines & Components, Inc., 303 F. Supp. 3d 227 (D. Conn. 2018).

Opinion

Donna F. Martinez, United States Magistrate Judge

Plaintiffs, Frederic A. Bourke, Jr. ("Bourke") and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company ("Fireman's Fund"), as subrogee of Bourke, bring this diversity action against defendant MAN Engines & Components, Inc. ("MAN") alleging that defendant breached express and implied warranties in connection with two diesel marine engines that defendant sold to Bourke. Pending before the court is defendant's motion for summary judgment against sole remaining plaintiff Fireman's Fund. (Doc. # 97.)1 For the reasons set forth below, the motion is GRANTED.2

I. Factual Background

The following facts, drawn from the parties' Local Rule 56(a) statements and exhibits, are undisputed.

MAN distributes and sells diesel marine engines designed and manufactured by MAN Truck and BUS, AG. (Defendant's Local Rule 56(a)(1) Statement ("Def. SOF"), Doc. # 102, ¶ 4; Plaintiff's Local Rule 56(a)(2) Statement ("Pl. SOF"), Doc. # 105, ¶ 4.) MAN sold two MAN Truck and BUS, AG diesel marine engines (the "engines") to Bourke for installation on Bourke's motor yacht, MV Midnight. (Def. SOF ¶ 6; Pl. SOF ¶ 6.) Each of the engines has a component part called an intercooler. (Def. SOF ¶¶ 8-8; Pl. SOF ¶¶ 8-9.) The intercoolers cool the hot charge air coming from Turbo chargers of the engines by using sea water from the ocean, which circulates through the web of tubes in the intercoolers. (Def. SOF ¶¶ 10-11; Pl. SOF ¶¶ 10-11.) The cooled air then circulates into the engine where it is compressed and injected by diesel fuel. (Def. SOF ¶ 12; Pl. SOF ¶ 12.)

Although the date of purchase is unclear,3 the parties agree that the Limited Warranty for New Common Rail Marine Diesel Engines (the "Limited Warranty") went into effect on April 3, 2009 and expired on April 3, 2011. (Def. SOF ¶¶ 15-17; Pl. SOF ¶¶ 15-17.) The Extended Service *230Protection Warranty (the "Extended Service Contract") went into effect on July 8, 2009. (Def. SOF ¶ 21; Pl. SOF ¶ 21.) Pursuant to the Extended Service Contract, the extended warranty expired "on April 3, 2014 or 2500 hours, whichever comes first." (Def. SOF ¶ 21; Pl. SOF ¶ 21.) On September 16, 2012, after the expiration of the Limited Warranty, but before the Extended Service Contract expired, the engines failed. (Def. SOF ¶ 27; Pl. SOF ¶ 27.) Plaintiff sought repairs pursuant to the warranties. MAN authorized certain repairs which were performed by MAN-authorized service dealer Casco Bay Diesel & Electric of Portland, Maine ("Casco Bay"). (Def. SOF ¶ 28; Pl. SOF ¶ 28.) Casco Bay then performed additional repairs, which defendant says were unauthorized and plaintiff maintains were "implicitly authorized." (Def. SOF ¶ 29; Pl. SOF ¶ 29.)

II. Summary Judgment Standard

"The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A "material" fact is a fact that influences the case's outcome under governing law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). A "genuine" dispute is one that a reasonable jury could resolve in favor of the non-movant. Id. The moving party bears the initial burden of establishing that there are no genuine disputes as to any material fact. Weinstock v. Columbia Univ., 224 F.3d 33, 41 (2d Cir. 2000). Once such a showing is made, the non-movant must show that there is a genuine issue for trial. Id. The court may rely on admissible evidence only, Spiegel v. Schulmann, 604 F.3d 72, 81 (2d Cir. 2010), and must view the evidence in the record in the light most favorable to the non-movant, drawing all reasonable inferences in that party's favor. Weinstock, 224 F.3d at 41.

III. Discussion

Defendant MAN moves for summary judgment against subrogated plaintiff Fireman's Fund on its claims of breach of express warranty (Count II) and breach of implied warranties (Count IV) against MAN due to MAN's alleged failure to reimburse Fireman's Fund for certain repairs to Bourke's motor yacht. (Compl., Doc. # 1.) Defendant MAN argues that the Connecticut Product Liability Act, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572m et seq. ("CPLA") is the exclusive remedy in Connecticut for plaintiff's breach of express and implied warranty claims. Defendant maintains that plaintiff failed to plead, and cannot prove, the necessary elements of the CPLA. Therefore, defendant argues that it is entitled to summary judgment. (Doc. # 98 at 4-7, 12-15.)

Plaintiff does not respond at all to defendant's argument that the CPLA governs plaintiff's claims and that plaintiff has not pleaded the necessary elements of a breach of warranty claim under the CPLA. Instead, plaintiff states, without more, only that the "complaint sounds in contract." (Doc. # 104 at 2.)

The court agrees with defendant, as discussed below.

A. The Complaint is Governed by the CPLA.

Plaintiff pleaded two counts against MAN: breach of express warranty and breach of implied warranty (Compl., Counts II, IV). By its terms, the CPLA governs these claims. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572m(b) defines a product liability claim as follows:

"Product liability claim" includes all claims or actions brought for personal injury, death or property damage caused *231by the manufacture, construction, design, formula, preparation, assembly, installation, testing, warnings, instructions, marketing, packaging or labeling of any product.

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Bluebook (online)
303 F. Supp. 3d 227, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bourke-v-man-engines-components-inc-ctd-2018.