Supreme Court of the United States
Air and Liquid Systems Corp., Petitioners v. Roberta G. Devries
March 19, 2019586 U.S. 446
Summary
The Court affirmed the Third Circuit, holding that under maritime tort law a product manufacturer must warn when its product requires incorporation of a part, the manufacturer knows the integrated product is likely dangerous, and the manufacturer has no reason to believe users will realize the danger. The decision vacates the district court’s summary‑judgment rulings and remands for reconsideration under this three‑part duty‑to‑warn rule.
Holding
- Whether a product manufacturer has a duty to warn when its product requires incorporation of a dangerous part and the manufacturer knows the integrated product is likely dangerous and users are unlikely to realize the danger.. Yes. In the maritime tort context, a product manufacturer has a duty to warn when (i) its product requires incorporation of a part, (ii) the manufacturer knows or has reason to know that the integrated product is likely to be dangerous for its intended uses, and (iii) the manufacturer has no reason to believe that the product's users will realize that danger.
Docket 17-1104
Cited authorities
- CA11
- 28 U.S.C. § 1333
- 56 U. Chi. L. Rev. 1175
Cited by
- Sebright v. General Electric Company
- Ortega Garcia v. United States
- Carlson v. CBS Corporation
- Speck v. 3M Company
- Estate of John P.O'Neill, Sr. v. Al Baraka Investment and Development Corporation
- Warrington v. 3m Company
- Amber De Jesus Avila v. Grinding and Polishing Machinery Corporation
- Speck v. 3M Company