Gresser v. Dow Chemical Co.

989 N.E.2d 339, 2013 WL 1809814, 2013 Ind. App. LEXIS 204
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 30, 2013
DocketNo. 79A02-1111-CT-1014
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 989 N.E.2d 339 (Gresser v. Dow Chemical Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gresser v. Dow Chemical Co., 989 N.E.2d 339, 2013 WL 1809814, 2013 Ind. App. LEXIS 204 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

OPINION

PYLE, Judge.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

John and Janice Gresser, individually, and as parents and natural guardians of Elizabeth and Rebekah Gresser (collectively, “the Gressers”), filed a product liability action against The Dow Chemical Company, Inc., and DowElanco n/k/a Dow Agro-sciences LLC (collectively, “Dow”) and a negligence action against Reliable Exterminators, Inc. (“Reliable”).

Dow responded to the Gressers’ suit by filing several motions for summary judgment and motions to strike. Rehable also filed or joined in the summary judgment motions. The Gressers appeal the trial court’s grant of some of these summary judgment motions, while Dow and Reliable cross-appeal the trial court’s denial of other summary judgment motions. In addition, Reliable cross appeals the trial court’s denial of its motion to exclude and/or strike depositions, affidavits, and other evidence proposed by the Gressers’ expert witnesses. The issues delineated below are dispositive.

We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.1

ISSUES
1. Whether summary judgment for Dow is warranted under the Indiana Product Liability Act (“IPLA”).
2. Whether the trial court erred in denying Reliable’s motion to exclude or strike the evidence proposed by the Gressers’ causation experts.
3. Whether the trial court erred in denying Reliable’s motion for summary judgment on the Gressers’ negligence claim.
4. Whether the trial court erred in denying Reliable’s summary judgment motion on the issue of punitive damages.
5. Whether the trial court erred in determining that this case is preempted by federal law.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On January 31, 2000, Reliable’s owner, Robert Hanstra (“Hanstra”), performed a pre-treatment inspection of a house owned by James Galloway and marketed by RE-MAX Realty (“REMAX”). Hanstra found evidence of what he believed to be termite activity, and he recommended that the house be treated for termites. Reliable [343]*343subsequently entered into a contract with REMAX that required Reliable to apply a termiticide to the house. The contract was in connection with the sale of the house to New Chauncey Housing (“New Chauncey”).

On February 11, 2000, Reliable employee Dave Neal treated the house by applying a termiticide, Dow’s Dursban TC, to get rid of wood destroying insects. At all times, Dursban TC was registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) according to the requirements of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”).

Thirteen months after Reliable’s application of Dursban TC, the Gressers purchased the house, even though they detected a very strong odor in the house. On May 10, 2001, two months after the purchase, the Gressers moved into the house, which still emanated a very strong odor.

After moving into the house, the Gres-sers reportedly experienced continual health problems, including unremitting flu-like symptoms, colds, excessive secretions, dizziness, fatigue, and other physical problems. The Gressers’ daughters reportedly developed irritability, behavior problems, and learning difficulties. In June of 2002, the Gressers moved out of the house because they feared that something in the house was causing their various illnesses.

On March 17, 2004, the Gressers filed product liability claims against Dow and negligence claims against Reliable. Their product liability claims are based on Dow’s alleged failure to (1) use reasonable care to instruct about the use of the product; (2) warn about its dangers; and (8) properly test and design the product. The Gres-sers’ claims against Rehable are based on their belief that Reliable negligently (1) chose to apply a termiticide where none was necessary; (2) selected Dursban TC instead of a safer product; (3) misapplied Dursban TC; and/or (4) failed to provide a warning to future occupants of the house.

Dow filed separate motions for summary judgment pertaining to the validity of the Gressers’ failure to warn claims and various other issues pursuant to the Gressers’ claims under IPLA. Dow also filed a motion for summary judgment alleging that the Gressers’ failure to warn claims were preempted by federal law, specifically FI-FRA and EPA regulations. Dow further filed a motion for summary judgment alleging that the Gressers’ claim for punitive damages was unsubstantiated. In addition, Dow filed various motions to strike designated evidence, including expert witness affidavits.

The trial court granted Dow’s summary judgment motion pertaining to the validity of the Gressers’ failure to warn claims under IPLA. The trial court also granted Dow’s motion for summary judgment on the issue of federal preemption. The trial court further granted Dow’s summary judgment motion pertaining to the Gres-sers’ claim for punitive damages. The trial court denied all other Dow motions without substantive comment, including a motion by both Dow and Reliable to exclude two of the Gressers’ expert witnesses.

Reliable filed a motion for summary judgment and joined with Dow on other motions. The trial court denied Reliable’s motion for summary judgment and other motions. However, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Reliable on the federal preemption issue.2

[344]*344Additional facts will be disclosed below as necessary.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

Summary judgment is appropriate if there is no genuine issue of material fact and a party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. City of Terre Haute v. Pairsh, 883 N.E.2d 1203, 1206 (Ind.Ct.App.2008), trans. denied. A genuine issue of material fact exists “ ‘where facts concerning an issue which would dispose of the litigation are in dispute or where the undisputed facts are capable of supporting conflicting inferences on such an issue.’ ” Haub v. Eldridge, 981 N.E.2d 96, 101 (Ind. Ct.App.2012) (quoting Scott v. Bodor, 571 N.E.2d 313, 318 (Ind.Ct.App.1991)). When reviewing entry of summary judgment, we stand in the shoes of the trial court. Koppin v. Strode, 761 N.E.2d 455, 460 (Ind.Ct.App.2002), trans. denied.

The moving party bears the burden of showing that there are no genuine issues of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Boston v. GYN, Ltd., 785 N.E.2d 1187, 1190 (Ind.Ct.App.2003), trans. denied. We review only the designated evidentiary material in the record, construing that evidence liberally in favor of the nonmoving party so as not to deny that party its day in court. Myers v. Irving Materials, 780 N.E.2d 1226, 1228 (Ind.Ct.App.2003). However, once the movant has carried its initial burden of going forward under Indiana Trial Rule 56(C), the nonmovant must come forward with sufficient evidence demonstrating the existence of genuine factual issues that should be resolved at trial. Clary v. Dibble,

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989 N.E.2d 339, 2013 WL 1809814, 2013 Ind. App. LEXIS 204, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gresser-v-dow-chemical-co-indctapp-2013.