First National Bank of Dwight, a National Banking Corporation, as Guardian of the Estate of Jeramie Aimone, a Minor v. Regent Sports Corporation

803 F.2d 1431, 2 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 458, 1986 U.S. App. LEXIS 32598, 55 U.S.L.W. 2316
CourtCourt of Appeals for the First Circuit
DecidedOctober 22, 1986
Docket85-2834
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 803 F.2d 1431 (First National Bank of Dwight, a National Banking Corporation, as Guardian of the Estate of Jeramie Aimone, a Minor v. Regent Sports Corporation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the First Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
First National Bank of Dwight, a National Banking Corporation, as Guardian of the Estate of Jeramie Aimone, a Minor v. Regent Sports Corporation, 803 F.2d 1431, 2 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 458, 1986 U.S. App. LEXIS 32598, 55 U.S.L.W. 2316 (1st Cir. 1986).

Opinion

COFFEY, Circuit Judge.

First National Bank of Dwight (First National), as guardian for Jeramie Aimone, brought this action against Regent Sports Corporation (Regent) alleging that Regent was liable under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1261 et seq., as amended, for the serious injuries sustained by Jeramie Aimone. First National also alleges that Regent was liable for Jera,mie’s injuries under theories of strict tort liability, implied warranty of merchantability, and negligence. The district court granted Regent’s motion for summary judgment on the federal claim under 15 U.S.C. § 1261 et seq., and on the strict liability claim, as well as the implied warranty and negligence claims. First National appeals from the district court’s granting of summary judgment. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

I

On July 2, 1982, Joanne Farmer went to a Walgreen’s Company store and purchased a set of “Slider Jarts” manufactured by the Regent Sports Corporation (Regent) for her daughter, Paula Bradford. Paula reimbursed her mother for the “Jarts.” “Slider Jarts” are used in a lawn dart game in which players toss the “Jarts,” or lawn darts, into a ring placed on the ground some distance from the players. On July 4, 1982, Paula and her husband hosted a picnic at their home which was attended by George and Mary Ann Aimone and their son, Jeramie, two and one-half years of age. During the picnic, some children took out the “Slider Jarts” and began playing with them. Cindy Jo Harp, Joann Farmer’s eight-year old granddaughter, threw one of the “Jarts” into the air. On its descent to the ground, the lawn dart struck Jeramie in the head, entered his skull, causing permaneht brain damage. *1433 Jeramie through his guardian, First National, and parents filed suit against Walgreen’s Company, Regent Sports Corporation, Paula Bradford and her husband. On appeal, we are concerned only with the claims against Regent.

II

Jeramie Aimone initially appeals the summary judgment granted by the district court to Regent on Count III of his complaint. Jeramie brought Count III under 15 U.S.C. § 2072(a), 1 alleging that Regent introduced a product into interstate commerce in violation of the regulations promulgated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, specifically 16 C.F.R. § 1500.-18(a)(4). 2 The Consumer Product Safety Commission has the authority to issue these regulations under 15 U.S.C. § 1261 (1982).

The district court may grant a summary judgment “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions of 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.” Fed.R.Civ.Pro. 56(c). The party moving for a summary judgment carries the burden of establishing that no genuine issue as to any material fact exists and that the movant is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. See Goldstick v. ICM Realty, 788 F.2d 456, 458 (7th Cir.1986).

Pursuant to 16 C.F.R. § 1500.-3(b)(4)(i)(D), 3 all products determined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to present mechanical hazards to children are categorized as “hazardous substances” and are banned from interstate commerce under 16 C.F.R. § 1500.3(b)(15)(i). 4 Under 16 *1434 C.F.R. § 1500.18(a)(4), lawn darts such as “Slider Jarts” are classified as mechanical hazards and are consequently banned from interstate commerce because they are unsuitable for children. 5 While lawn darts cannot be sold for use by children, they may be marketed under 16 C.F.R. § 1500.-86(a)(3)(i)(ii)(iii) as a game of skill for adults. 6

Regent repeats the argument it made before the district court now on appeal that, despite the fact that the “Slider Jarts” may have been improperly resold by Walgreen’s, Regent’s “product satisfied all the requirements for which it [Regent] could be held responsible and, therefore, that it [Regent] did not commit a ‘knowing (including willful)’ violation of the regulation as required by section 2072.” Aimone by Aimone v. Walgreen’s Co., 601 F.Supp. 507, 513 (D.C.Ill.1985). Lawn darts cannot be sold in toy stores or store departments dealing predominantly in toys and other children’s articles. See 16 C.F.R. § 1500.-86(a)(3)(iii). Regent’s invoices to retailers selling “Slider Jarts” state “Not to be sold in toy or children’s departments.” 601 F.Supp. at 513. In the catalogs distributed by Regent, the description of the lawn dart game clearly set forth: “Not a toy. (Not to be sold in toy departments).” Regent also has clearly imprinted on the outside of its shipping cartons: “Not to be sold in toy departments.” Id. Federal regulations not only prohibit the sale of lawn darts in toy stores or toy departments but also in “store departments dealing predominantly in toys and other children’s articles.” 16 C.F.R. § 1500.86(a)(3)(iii). By specifically stating that “Slider Jarts” are not to be sold in toy stores, Regent does not exclude the possibility that the “Slider Jarts” may be sold in store departments dealing primarily in “other children’s articles.” In its Answer to Interrogatories, Regent did admit selling its Jarts to sporting goods stores. A question arises as to whether sporting goods fall into the category of “other children’s articles.” In a House Report treating 15 U.S.C. § 1261, the statute which grants authority .to the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban dangerous items, a House Committee stated that the phrase “other articles intended for the use of children” used in 15 U.S.C. § 1261 included:

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803 F.2d 1431, 2 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 458, 1986 U.S. App. LEXIS 32598, 55 U.S.L.W. 2316, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/first-national-bank-of-dwight-a-national-banking-corporation-as-guardian-ca1-1986.