Clark v. Seagrave Fire Apparatus, Inc

427 N.W.2d 913, 170 Mich. App. 147

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: July 19, 1988
• Docket: Docket 88970
• Status: Published

Opinions

Kelly, J.

On May 12, 1983, a jury, after finding decedent fifty percent negligent, awarded plaintiff $150,000 in this design defect products liability case. A judgment along with $58,878.96 in interest was entered on July 22, 1983. On November 4, 1985, the trial court denied defendants’ renewed motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or in the alternative for a new trial and a motion for a directed verdict. Defendants appeal this decision as of right. We affirm.

On the morning of December 12, 1977, when Detroit Fire Fighter Michael L. Johnson was killed, the fire truck he was riding in departed an old Detroit Fire Department firehouse located on Milwaukee in the City of Detroit. Johnson was assigned to operate the tiller cab of the three-axle firefighting vehicle. The tiller cab was a raised enclosure on the back of the aerial ladder fire truck from which Johnson steered the back end of the vehicle around corners. On the day of the incident, as this fire truck left the firehouse, Johnson’s head was caught in a pinchpoint between an overhead ceiling beam and the back end of the tiller cab roof. The impact broke Johnson’s neck, causing his instantaneous death.

What apparently happened was that Johnson, after giving a two-beep signal to indicate that he was ready to move, stood up. The tiller cab had a sliding canopy roof. The top of the canopy barely cleared a ceiling beam in the firehouse. Apparently the canopy roof was open and Johnson stood up while attempting to put his coat on. At the same time the vehicle, after an initial delay, began to move forward. Once the vehicle left the firehouse, a firefighter noticed that Johnson was slumped over the tiller steering wheel. The vehicle stopped and the tiller cab was opened. There was blood all over the cab and Johnson had a long cut on the back of his neck from ear to ear. The forward edge of the sliding canopy roof was damaged. At the firehouse, the ceiling beam under which the cab passed had a large indentation apparently caused by Johnson’s helmet.

Plaintiffs theory was that the tiller cab was negligently designed, constructed, manufactured and sold. Plaintiff argued that the product was defective since it was not safe for intended uses and not of merchantable quality. Plaintiffs counsel argued to the jury that a proximate cause of Johnson’s death was the defectively designed tiller cab. Plaintiffs counsel argued that the design of the tiller cab was too high, the space inside the cab too small, the communication/signal system inadequate, and the sliding top unreasonably dangerous. Counsel also argued that Seagrave was negligent in not supplying warnings for these hidden dangers.

After the trial court instructed the jury, a verdict form was submitted to them for use in their deliberations. Defendants drafted the verdict form. To the first question on the verdict form—were defendants negligent?—the jury answered no. To the second question on the verdict form—did defendants breach their implied warranty of fitness? —the jury replied yes. The jury also replied affirmatively that this breach was a proximate cause of Johnson’s death. Subsequently the jury also found Johnson comparatively negligent and reduced the award accordingly.

The first issue raised by defendants on appeal concerns the jury’s verdict. Defendants contend the jury’s findings that defendants were not negligent but that they were liable for breach of implied warranty due to negligent design were inconsistent. For this reason, defendants argue that the jury’s verdict must be set aside and a new trial granted as a matter of law.

In Harrington v Velat, 395 Mich 359, 360; 235 NW2d 357 (1975), the Supreme Court held:

[T]he general rule is that where a verdict in a civil case is inconsistent and contradictory, it will be set aside and a new trial granted.

"Ordinarily, a verdict may and should be set aside and a new trial granted where it is self-contradictory, inconsistent, or incongruous, and such relief should, as a rule, be granted where more than one verdict are [sic] returned in the same action and they are inconsistent and irreconcilable.” 66 CJS, New Trial, § 66, pp 197-198.

Relying on Prentis v Yale Manufacturing Co, 421 Mich 670, 692; 365 NW2d 176 (1984), defendants argue that, when an engineering design defect is alleged (as here), a claim of breach of implied warranty and a claim of negligence involve identical evidence and proof of the same elements. Therefore, it was inconsistent for the jury on the one hand to find defendants not negligent while on the other hand find that defendants had breached their implied warranty of fitness.

Similarly, defendants rely on Smith v E R Squibb & Sons, Inc, 405 Mich 79; 273 NW2d 476 (1979), for the proposition that negligence and breach of implied warranty claims based on failure to warn or inadequacy of warnings involve proof of the same elements. Therefore, defendants again argue that it was inconsistent for the jury to find that defendants were not negligent while at the same time finding that defendants had breached their implied warranty of fitness.

However, Prentis and Smith are both procedurally distinguishable from the present situation. In both those cases the trial courts had refused to instruct the juries on breach of implied warranty. The issue on appeal in both cases was whether the failure to give that instruction was error. In Prentis the Supreme Court noted that breach of an implied warranty of fitness in a design defect case was essentially a matter of negligence, Prentis, supra at 691-692, the focus being whether the manufacturer used reasonable care and provided reasonable safety. In Smith the Supreme Court observed that determination of whether a product defect exists because of inadequate warnings requires use of the same standard used for determining negligence. Smith, supra at 90. Both Courts then concluded that instructing the jury on breach of implied warranty would have been "repetitive and unnecessary and could have misled the jury.” Prentis, supra at 691. See also Smith, supra at 91.

While the issue in Prentis and Smith concerned appropriate jury instruction, the issue here is whether the verdict reached is inconsistent. A case more analogous to the issue presented here is Granger v Fruehauf Corp, 429 Mich 1; 412 NW2d 199 (1987). In Granger, plaintiff brought a products liability action claiming injuries due to a defective design in a trailer manufactured by defendant. Plaintiff claimed negligence and breach of implied warranty of fitness. The jury verdict was for defendant on the breach of implied warranty theory, but for plaintiff on the negligence theory. Defendant in Granger argued the verdict of the jury was inconsistent. Relying on Prentis, this Court agreed. Granger v Freuhauf Corp, 147 Mich App 190; 383 NW2d 162 (1985), rev’d 429 Mich 1 (1987). The Supreme Court did not.

Here, as in Granger, the jury was given the standard jury instructions for negligent design cases, SJI2d 25.32 and the standard jury instruction on implied warranty, SJI2d 25.22. At the time of trial in this case, and at the time of trial in Granger, these were the traditional jury instructions concerning negligent design and implied warranty and were then recognized as applicable. Granger, 147 Mich App 197. And in Granger, like here, there was no objection to these instructions. In reversing this Court, the Supreme Court in Granger held that, regardless of Prentis’ rejection of SJI2d 25.22 in this situation,.since the case was tried prior to the release of the opinion in Prentis, there was no objection to the giving of SJI2d 25.22, and failure to vacate the verdict would not be inconsistent with substantial justice, on the facts presented no new trial was in order.

[I]t is fundamental that every attempt must be made to harmonize a jury’s verdicts. Only where verdicts are so logically and legally inconsistent that they cannot be reconciled will they be set aside, see, e.g., Izzo v Weiss, 270 Mich 372, 375; 259 NW 295 (1935), quoting from Foster v Gaffield, 34 Mich 356, 357 (1876), and Gallick v Baltimore & O R Co, 372 US 108, 119; 83 S Ct 659; 9 L Ed 2d 618 (1963). [Granger, 429 Mich 9.]

Because defendants did not object to the trial court’s giving both the negligent design and implied warranty instructions, since this case was also tried prior to the decision in Prentis, and since defendants prepared the verdict form, we find that failure to vacate the verdict would not be inconsistent with substantial justice. Since a defendant can be negligent but not liable for implied warranty in a design defect case (see Granger), it is not inconsistent with substantial justice, on the facts presented here, to find that defendants were not negligent but that defendants did breach their implied warranty of fitness.

The very essence of a jury’s function is to select from contradictory evidence with "conflicting inferences and conclusions that which it considers most reasonable.” Gallick, supra at 115. It is axiomatic that this Court will not look behind the deliberations that lead to a jury’s decision.

Next, defendants argue that plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case. Therefore, defendants contend, the trial court erred in denying their motion for a directed verdict, judgment notwithstanding the verdict or new trial.

In deciding whether or not to grant a motion for a directed verdict, or judgment notwithstanding the verdict, the evidence and all legitimate inferences that may be drawn from it must be viewed in a light most favorable to the nonmoving party; if the evidence viewed in this manner establishes a prima facie case then the motion for directed verdict should be denied. Beard v Detroit, 158 Mich App 441; 404 NW2d 770 (1987), lv den 428 Mich 901 (1987). In deciding the motion for a new trial the standard for review is whether the jury’s verdict was against the great weight of the evidence. Id. at 452.

Defendants argue that it was not foreseeable, as a matter of law, that the Detroit Fire Department would house the vehicle in question here where there was insufficient clearance. Similarly, defendants argue that, as a matter of law, it was not foreseeable that Johnson would violate his duty, training and standard operating procedure by dressing in the open tiller cab.

It is well established that placing a product on the market creates the requisite relationship between a manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer and persons affected by use of the product giving rise to a legal obligation or duty to the persons so affected. A manufacturer owes the consumer an obligation to avoid negligent conduct. The obligation extends to persons within the foreseeable scope of the risk. [Moning v Alfono, 400 Mich 425, 439; 254 NW2d 759 (1977).]

In the instant case defendants had sold firefighting apparatus to the Detroit Fire Department for decades. All prospective bidders on fire trucks were to inspect old fire trueles prior to bidding on new ones in order to determine their design, location and appropriate method of mounting equipment. Defendants were also aware that the Detroit Fire Department initially requested bids on a truck with a lower tiller cab height. Defendants knew or should have known that the City of Detroit had firehouses that were old and designed for equipment from a by-gone era.

Likewise, it was not unforeseeable as a matter of law that Johnson would disregard his training and standard operating procedures. There was evidence to indicate that it was common practice for firefighters to dress while on the truck.

Furthermore, plaintiff presented expert testimony that the design of the tiller cab was unreasonably dangerous because it failed to safeguard the operator from foreseeable hazards in the normal course of the operator’s work. There was testimony to the effect that a reasonably prudent designer could foresee the canopy design presented a hazard of collision or contact because of the cab’s height. Because the interior of the cab was shorter than most people, the design created a shear point because of the sliding canopy. There was also expert testimony that the signaling system was a proximate cause of this accident and that a reasonably prudent alternate design would have been a simple interlock system connecting the seat belt or canopy to a signaling device.

A prima facie case was established. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying defendants’ motion for a directed verdict or in denying the motion for a new trial. There were fact questions presented that were for the jury to decide making judgment notwithstanding the verdict also improper.

Next, defendants argue that the trial court disallowed expert testimony for improper reasons. At trial Robert Foster, the miosha inspector who investigated the accident, was called as a witness. However, at the time of the accident Foster was a trainee working with a senior inspector. Defendants sought to introduce Foster’s opinion as an expert. The trial court would not allow defendants to question Foster about his opinion, limiting his testimony to his observations.

A trial court may in its discretion exclude expert testimony where its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury. Gibson v Group Ins Co of Michigan, 142 Mich App 271, 277; 369 NW2d 484 (1985), lv den 424 Mich 851 (1985).

Defendants were attempting to elicit Foster’s opinion about whether there were any safety violations. In excluding testimony which would have necessitated delving into a potentially confusing collateral matter, the trial court did not abuse its discretion. Furthermore, evidence of miosha citations issued to a nonparty employer are not admissible as substantive evidence in a wrongful death action against the manufacturer where the violations are not the gravamen of the claim. Swartz v Dow Chemical Co, 414 Mich 433, 445; 326 NW2d 804 (1982).

Defendants next argue that they are not liable to plaintiff as a matter of law since the vehicle was manufactured in accordance with Detroit Fire Department specifications. There is an exception to the products liability rule apparently now relied on by defendant where a manufacturer fabricates a product in accordance with plans and specifications of the buyer, except where the plans are obviously dangerous and should not reasonably be followed. Huff v Ford Motor Co, 127 Mich App 287, 294-295; 338 NW2d 387 (1983).

However, that exception is not applicable here. The Detroit Fire Department did not specify that defendants use only a sliding canopy roof. Its only specification in this matter was that the tiller seat be fully enclosed. This claim is without merit.

Finally, defendants argue that the trial court gave erroneous jury instructions over objection and denied requested applicable supplemental instructions. However, we find no error requiring reversal in the trial court’s jury instructions. The trial court did not abuse its discretion, as defendants contend, by giving SJI2d 12.02 (excused violation of a statute). This instruction was qualified when the court instructed that the jury must find Johnson used ordinary care. When the instructions are read as a whole we find no abuse of discretion by including this instruction.

The trial court likewise did not abuse its discretion by not giving SJI2d 12.01 (violation of a statute), and SJI2d 12.06 (violation of administrative rules and regulations), which defendant requested. Read as a whole the jury instructions made a general reference to violations of such provisions. We find no abuse.

Next defendants argue the trial court improperly denied various other requested supplemental instructions. Since defendants have not argued on appeal why error requiring reversal resulted from any omissions of these instructions, defendants have failed to preserve this issue for appeal. Mitcham v Detroit, 355 Mich 182, 203; 94 NW2d 388 (1959).

Finally defendants argue that the trial court erred in instructing the jury on plaintiff’s duty to warn theory. However, defendants did not object to the instruction at trial. Defendants cannot now assign as error the giving of this instruction. MCR 2.516(1); Temborious v Slatkin, 157 Mich App 587, 602; 403 NW2d 821 (1986). Because the jury found that defendants were not negligent, no miscarriage of justice can be claimed on this basis.

Affirmed.

L. P. Borrello, J., concurred.