Maines v. Kenworth Alaska, Inc.

155 P.3d 318, 2007 Alas. LEXIS 33, 2007 WL 1031616
CourtAlaska Supreme Court
DecidedApril 6, 2007
DocketS-11255
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 155 P.3d 318 (Maines v. Kenworth Alaska, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Alaska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Maines v. Kenworth Alaska, Inc., 155 P.3d 318, 2007 Alas. LEXIS 33, 2007 WL 1031616 (Ala. 2007).

Opinions

OPINION

FABE, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

The driver of a dump truck appeals the superior court's grant of summary judgment to both PACCAR, the truck manufacturer, and Kenworth, the truck distributor, for negligent maintenance and manufacture of the truck. The driver alleges that the truck leaked refrigerant from its air conditioning system and that he developed respiratory problems as a result of the leak. The driver challenges the decision of the superior court to strike two affidavits proffered in opposition to summary judgment. We conclude that the superior court did not abuse its discretion in excluding an unsigned and un-sworn declaration but did err in exeluding an affidavit from a late-disclosed expert without considering lesser alternative sanctions. We also conclude that the expert's affidavit raises a genuine issue of material fact as to negligent maintenance on the part of Ken-worth but not PACCAR. We therefore reverse the order granting summary judgment in favor of Kenworth but affirm the order granting summary judgment in favor of PACCAR on this claim. Finally, we conclude that the expert's affidavit raises a genuine issue of material fact as to negligent manufacture on the part of PACCAR and therefore reverse the order granting summary judgment to PACCAR on this claim.

II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

A. Factual History

Kenneth Maines procured temporary, seasonal employment as a truck driver at Exelu-sive Landscaping and Paving, Inc. (Exclusive) in Fairbanks in June 1999. Maines drove a Kenworth dump truck, designated Truck 2-6, for Exclusive. The truck was manufactured by PACCAR, Inc., was sold to Exelusive by Kenworth,1 and was used extensively in heavy construction. Truck 2-6 was a new truck purchased and first used by Exclusive in April 1998. Prior to Maines's use of the truck, three repairs were made by Kenworth under PACCAR's general warranty. Only one of these repairs concerned the air conditioning system and occurred on July 28, 1998 when Kenworth replaced an O-ring on the suction hose at the compressor and charged the air conditioning system with 3.4 pounds of refrigerant.

During the summer of 1999 and after the warranty had expired, a total of four repairs were made to Truck 2-6 during Maines's use of the truck. Two of those repairs involved leaks of refrigerant from the air conditioning [321]*321system. On June 10, 1999, an existing leak in the air conditioning system was identified. A loose connection hose was repaired by tightening the hose and charging the system with one pound of R-134A refrigerant. On July 16, 1999, another leak was identified that was "wholly unrelated to and separate from the repair made on June 10, 1999." A fitting at the condenser line was tightened and the system was again charged with refrigerant. The amount of refrigerant replaced is unknown. The last two of the four repairs were made to the air conditioning system in August 1999. But there is no evidence to indicate leaks were present or that additional refrigerant was needed for the system.

Maines began driving the truck in June 1999. Two months later, in August 1999, Maines complained to Dr. Eric Tallon, an ear, nose, and throat specialist, that he had developed the following "around the clock" symptoms: "sore throat, nasal voice with congestion, shortness of breath, wheezing, congestion of the lungs, sweats at night, occasional palpitation, poor sleep, occasional bouts of nausea with vague arthralgia of the upper extremities, including shoulders." Maines maintained that these symptoms developed over a six-week time frame starting in June 1999. He also contended that he "had never had any history of bronchitis, sinusitis, or been treated for any form of sleep apnea or sleep disorder" prior to May 1999. At the time, Maines stated he was working nine-to twelve-hour work shifts six days a week and that his symptoms were worse while at work. Maines was referred to a pulmonologist, Dr. Owen Hanley, who placed him on several bronchodilators to treat asthma.

In December 2000 Dr. Stephen McCurdy became the first to relate Maines's upper and lower respiratory problems to his exposure to the refrigerant, R-134A, during 1999. The relevant portions of Dr. McCurdy's affidavit state: "I am familiar with R-134A; it is a fluorinated hydrocarbon.... Low exposures with fluorinated hydrocarbons are typically associated with transient upper airway irritation.... Exposure[ ] to high concentrations has been associated with chronic bronchial hyperresponsiveness (asthma), as now affects the patient." Dr. Dana Headapohl concurred with this assessment during an independent medical examination for Maines's workers' compensation claim. Her diagnosis stated that "[mJost of Mr. Maines's symptoms during the time of the leaking refrigerant are consistent with exposure to Freon, with the exception of arthralgias."

At Exelusive's request, Dr. Brent Burton examined Maines on August 1, 2002. Dr. Burton concluded in an affidavit submitted to the trial court that "none of [Maines's] physical symptoms are consistent with exposure to R-134A." He concluded that the symptoms "are more likely than not related to Mr. Maines' poor physical condition and morbid obesity, chronic rhinosinusitis with anatomically deviated septum, heat and stuffy air in the truck cab, potential sleep apnea, and/or a combination of any or all of these factors." Dr. Burton also noted that a history of marijuana use and occasional use of pipe tobacco would significantly affect his physical symptoms. Maines does have a history of marijuana use since at least 1986.

Lance Eike, an expert witness for PAC-CAR, explained how R-134A flows between the evaporator, compressor, and condenser and that O-rings seal each connection point, stating: "In the event any refrigerant leaked from an O-ring connection, the leak would cceur within the engine compartment itself, not in the cabin." He maintained that the air conditioning system has "multiple barriers to prevent engine compartment air from entering the cabin," and that "[the only failure of the air conditioning system that could leak refrigerant directly into the cabin is a failure in the evaporator core. No other component failure has the potential to allow refrigerant directly into the cab.... The failure rate of the evaporator under warranty in similar models is just over one-half of one percent...."

But Maines disputed Eike's contentions through an affidavit of Christopher Meltvedt, an automotive expert. The affidavit stated: "The opinion that I hold, on a more-probable-than-not basis, that refrigerant leaked directly in to the cabin of Kenworth dump truck 2-6, is based on the medical condition of Mr. [322]*322Maines, as set out in the reports of Dr. McCurdy and Dr. Headapohl; my knowledge and experience working with this type of air conditioning system; the repair orders generated by Kenworth [and] the continued loss of refrigerant from the air conditioning system."

B. Procedural History

Maines filed a complaint against Kenworth and PACCAR on June 11, 2001, alleging that they negligently manufactured and maintained Truck 2-6. The negligent maintenance claim mainly implicates a number of repairs undertaken during Truck 2-6's warranty period and during the period Maines drove the truck. Maines alleges that this negligence caused him to be exposed to hazardous materials, which in turn caused him to develop respiratory problems. Maines sought damages in exeess of $100,000.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Williams v. Baker
446 P.3d 336 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2019)
In Re Adoption of E.H. and J.H.
431 P.3d 1190 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2018)
In Re Necessity for the Hospitalization of Heather R.
366 P.3d 530 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2016)
City of Hooper Bay v. Bunyan
359 P.3d 972 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2015)
Greene v. Tinker
332 P.3d 21 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2014)
Purcella v. Olive Kathryn Purcella Trust
325 P.3d 987 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2014)
Urban v. Urban
314 P.3d 513 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2013)
Lum v. Koles
314 P.3d 546 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2013)
Kalenka v. Jadon, Inc.
305 P.3d 346 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2013)
Berezyuk v. State
282 P.3d 386 (Court of Appeals of Alaska, 2012)
Diaz v. State, Department of Corrections
239 P.3d 723 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2010)
Hymes v. DeRamus
222 P.3d 874 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2010)
Beal v. McGuire
216 P.3d 1148 (Alaska Supreme Court, 2009)
Harris v. State
195 P.3d 161 (Court of Appeals of Alaska, 2008)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
155 P.3d 318, 2007 Alas. LEXIS 33, 2007 WL 1031616, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/maines-v-kenworth-alaska-inc-alaska-2007.