ZINTER, Justice.
[¶ 1.] Richard and Susan Karst sued Shur Company and Wilson Trailer Company on negligence and strict-liability causes of action.
[¶ 2.] Richard Karst was in the business of trucking and buying and selling oats. He used a type of grain trailer that required a tarp to cover the cargo area. From 1980 until 2007, Richard used a manual-tarp system on his trailers.
[¶ 3.] In 2007, Richard purchased two new grain trailers from Wilson. Both were equipped with Shur's model 3500 electric-tarp system. The tarp system featured a "roll tube" that ran the length of the trailer. A tarp, when rolled around the roll tube, retracted to uncover the cargo area. The roll tube was attached to the front and rear of the trailer by a "flex arm" at each end. The tarp system used
[¶ 4.] On December 15, 2009, Richard loaded two trailers with oats at an elevator in McLaughlin. The lead trailer's tarp closed properly, but the pup trailer's electric-tarp system failed, leaving the roll tube and tarp in the open position. A warning label located on the rear flex arm warned that it was under spring tension and advised reading the manual before disassembling the flex arm. Although the manual similarly warned that the flex arms were under tension, the manual did not offer guidance on how to unroll a tarp stuck in the open position with the electric-tarp system engaged.
[¶ 5.] Because the tarp had to be closed before leaving the elevator, Richard climbed onto a platform on the back of the trailer to attempt to manually unroll the tarp. He attempted to hold the flex arm with one hand while using a hammer to knock the flex arm's metal sleeve off the roll tube to get access to the spline. As soon as the sleeve separated from the roll tube, the torsion springs caused the flex arm to spring toward Richard, knocking him to the ground. Richard suffered a fractured skull and permanent brain damage. As a result of the brain injury, he is unable to recall the accident.
[¶ 6.] Karsts later brought this suit on causes of action alleging strict liability and negligence (both for defectively designing the product and for failing to properly warn of the danger). Wilson moved for summary judgment on all claims, and Shur moved for summary judgment on the failure-to-warn claims. After Karsts responded to the summary judgment motions on the failure-to-warn claims, the circuit court determined that Karsts failed to produce evidence that Richard had read the provided warnings prior to the accident. The court concluded that in the absence of such evidence, Karsts would be unable to prove causation on their failure-to-warn claims. Consequently, the court granted summary judgment to Defendants on all failure-to-warn claims. The court also granted summary judgment to Wilson on Karsts' negligent-defective-design claim.
[¶ 7.] Karsts appeal, raising four issues
[¶ 8.] "A trial court has discretion in the wording and arrangement of its jury instructions, and therefore we generally review a trial court's decision to grant or deny a particular instruction under the abuse of discretion standard. However, no court has discretion to give incorrect, misleading, conflicting, or confusing instructions...." Vetter v. Cam Wal Elec. Coop., Inc., 2006 S.D. 21, ¶ 10, 711 N.W.2d 612, 615 (citations omitted). Therefore, "when the question is whether a jury was properly instructed overall, that issue becomes a question of law reviewable de novo." Id.
[¶ 9.] Karsts argue that Instruction 20 on strict liability misstated the law and confused and misled the jury in describing products that are in a "defective condition unreasonably dangerous" to the user. Because jury instructions "must be considered as a whole in determining if error was committed in giving or refusing to give certain instructions[,]" Degen v. Bayman, 90 S.D. 400, 406, 241 N.W.2d 703, 706 (1976), Karsts' argument requires consideration of Instructions 19 and 20 together. This case was submitted to the jury on a defective-design theory, and the parties agreed that the strict-liability question should be determined under what is commonly referred to as the risk-utility test. Accordingly, the court gave Instruction 19, which stated: "A product is in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user if it could have been designed to prevent a foreseeable harm without significantly hindering its function or increasing its price." Instruction 20 stated:
According to Karsts, Instruction 20 was not needed because "Instruction 19 gave the jury all of the law it needed to decide whether defendants were liable on a product-defect theory." Karsts more specifically contend: (1) that under South Dakota law, Instruction 20 incorrectly implied a separate unreasonably-dangerous test, that defectiveness and unreasonable dangerousness are not separate elements, and that the jury was not required to accept any level of danger in this product; (2) Instruction 20 derives from Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A comment k (Am. Law Inst.1965), which applies only to products that are unavoidably unsafe; (3) Instruction 20 gave no standard for differentiating between a dangerous product and an unreasonably dangerous product; and (4) Instruction 20 unfairly emphasized the Defendants' theory of the case.
[¶ 10.] First, Instruction 20 did not misstate South Dakota-strict-liability law. Karsts incorrectly presume that the phrase "defective condition unreasonably dangerous" is a single element that does not include an unreasonably-dangerous inquiry. This Court adopted the rule of strict liability expressed in the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A. Peterson v. Safway Steel Scaffolds Co., 400 N.W.2d 909, 912 (S.D.1987). Under this rule, a seller is strictly liable for physical harm caused by a product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer. Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A. The rule "applies only where the defective condition of the product makes it
[¶ 11.] Karsts further contend that Instruction 20 was erroneously taken from
(Emphasis added.) Thus, Instruction 20's first sentence ("A product can be dangerous without being unreasonably dangerous.") and third sentence ("A product is not in a defective or unreasonably dangerous condition merely because it is possible to be injured while using it.") come from the second and third sentences of comment i quoted here. Likewise, Instruction 20's second sentence ("Even if a product is defective in some manner, you must find that the defect renders the product `unreasonably' dangerous.") comes from the first sentence of comment i quoted here. Instruction 20 was not improperly taken from § 402A comment k language that applies only to products that are unavoidably unsafe.
[¶ 12.] Karsts next contend that additional instructions were required to define unreasonably dangerous.
[¶ 13.] Karsts finally argue that Instruction 20 unfairly emphasized Defendants' theory of the case. But as we have previously explained, "[s]trict liability requires that the product be defective and unreasonably dangerous." Peterson, 400 N.W.2d at 912 (emphasis added). Accordingly, Instruction 18 required Karsts to prove both elements: that the tarp system "was in a defective condition which made it unreasonably dangerous to Richard Karst[.]" Instruction 20 simply recognized that because both elements were required, it was not sufficient for the jury to determine merely that some danger was attendant to use of the product. Thus, Instruction 20 did not unfairly emphasize a defense theory of the case. Karsts also failed to object to Instruction 20 on this ground. "An attorney must be clear when objecting to jury instructions `so the trial court is advised of what possible errors exist and be granted the opportunity to correct any instructions.'" Parker v. Casa Del Rey-Rapid City, Inc., 2002 S.D. 29, ¶ 15, 641 N.W.2d 112, 118 (quoting Sundt Corp. v. State By & Through S.D. Dep't of Transp., 1997 S.D. 91, ¶ 17, 566 N.W.2d 476, 480). Therefore, Karsts waived this argument for appeal.
[¶ 14.] We conclude that when considered as a whole, the instructions correctly stated the law of strict liability in this jurisdiction. The circuit court did not err in giving Instruction 20.
[¶ 15.] Summary judgment is appropriate "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on 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." SDCL 15-6-56(c). "The evidence must be viewed most favorably to the nonmoving party and reasonable doubts should be resolved against the moving party. The nonmoving party, however, must present specific facts showing that a genuine, material issue for trial exists." Peters v. Great W. Bank, Inc., 2015 S.D. 4, ¶ 5, 859 N.W.2d 618, 621 (quoting Saathoff v. Kuhlman, 2009 S.D. 17, ¶ 11, 763 N.W.2d 800, 804). "Entry of summary judgment is mandated against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial." Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co. v. Barton Solvents Inc., 2014 S.D. 70, ¶ 10, 855 N.W.2d 145, 149 (quoting Hass v. Wentzlaff, 2012 S.D. 50, ¶ 11, 816 N.W.2d 96, 101). A showing is not sufficient unless "the party challenging summary judgment substantiate[s its] allegations with sufficient probative evidence that would permit a finding in [its] favor on more than mere speculation, conjecture, or fantasy." Id. (quoting Quinn v. Farmers Ins. Exch., 2014 S.D. 14, ¶ 20, 844 N.W.2d 619, 624-25).
[¶ 17.] Karsts first contend that the failure to read an irrelevant warning does not bar a failure-to-warn claim. They assert that the provided warnings were irrelevant because "Defendants did not warn of the hazards associated with removing the sleeve when the tarp was stuck open." They also assert that the logic of the instruction manual was circular: according to the manual, the first step in converting the system from electric to manual is to "close the tarp," but the first step in operating the tarp (when the electric system fails) is to convert the system from electric to manual. Thus, Karsts contend that notwithstanding the lack of a "causal link between the warnings and the incident, a purported failure to read [irrelevant] warnings ... should not preclude a claim based on the lack of warnings about performing an `open tarp' conversion." Defendants respond that "it is simply impossible for a plaintiff who cannot prove that he or she ever read and relied upon a warning to show that alleged inadequacies in the warning's content caused the accident[.]"
[¶ 18.] Causation is a necessary element of a failure-to-warn claim, whether pursued under a negligence or strict-liability theory. Barton Solvents, 2014 S.D. 70, ¶ 17, 855 N.W.2d at 150-51. In order to prove causation in a failure-to-warn claim, "[a] plaintiff must show that adequate warnings would have made a difference in the outcome, that is, that they would have been followed." Gen. Motors Corp. v. Saenz ex rel. Saenz, 873 S.W.2d 353, 357 (Tex.1993); see also Payne v. Novartis Pharm. Corp., 767 F.3d 526, 531-32 (6th Cir.2014) ("The key inquiry is whether, `had additional warnings been given, the plaintiff would not have sustained her injuries.'" (quoting Smith v. Pfizer Inc., 688 F.Supp.2d 735, 746 (M.D.Tenn.2010))). A "[p]laintiff's failure to read the available warning and instruction literature harms the ability to prove that a different warning would have changed his conduct." 2 David G. Owen & Mary J. Davis, Owen & Davis on Prods. Liab. § 11:20 (4th ed.2014). Therefore, courts generally hold that a plaintiff's failure to read a given warning precludes establishment of the causation element even if the warning is arguably inadequate. See Johnson v. Niagara Mach. & Tool Works, 666 F.2d 1223, 1225 (8th Cir.1981) ("[A]n issue as to the adequacy of a warning necessarily presupposes that the operator has read the warning."); Palmer v. Volkswagen of Am., Inc., 904 So.2d 1077, 1084 (Miss.2005) ("The presence or absence of anything in an unread owner's manual simply cannot proximately cause a plaintiff's damages."); Burley v. Kytec Innovative Sports Equip., Inc., 2007 S.D. 82, ¶ 37 n. 7, 737 N.W.2d 397, 410 n. 7 (accepting premise of defendant's argument that a student athlete injured by exercise
[¶ 19.] Karsts alternatively contend that they presented "evidence that, when viewed in the light most favorable to the Karsts, [established that Richard] read the warnings." It is not disputed that due to the nature of his injury, Richard cannot remember whether he read the provided warnings prior to the accident. Therefore, Karsts rely on the depositions of three other witnesses. First, Wilson's sales manager, Richard Gase, stated in his deposition that he "would ... tell customers that [he] thought there was very good information in [the] owner's manual and that it was important to read through it." Second, one of Karsts' expert witness, Dr. Laughery, opined in his deposition that Richard "was a guy who wasn't in a hurry... and ... who, by all the things that I read, was responsible, that had he been given adequate information, adequate warnings, he would have complied with them." Finally, one of the employees at the grain elevator, Todd Hauck, stated in his deposition that he saw Richard climb up to the work platform on the back of the trailer, climb down and read "something," ask for a wrench, then climb back up to the platform and release the flex arm from the roll tube.
[¶ 20.] The foregoing evidence was not sufficient to resist summary judgment. "Where the theory of liability is failure to warn adequately, the evidence must be such as to support a reasonable inference, rather than a guess, that the existence of an adequate warning may have prevented the accident before the issue of causation may be submitted to the jury." Conti v. Ford Motor Co., 743 F.2d 195, 198 (3d Cir.1984); see also Barton Solvents, 2014 S.D. 70, ¶ 10, 855 N.W.2d at 149. Mr. Gase's statement about unidentified customers and "good information" creates no inference that Richard actually read the specific warnings that are at issue in this case. So also, Dr. Laughery made clear that his opinion whether Richard may have read the supplied warnings prior to the accident was speculative. Dr. Laughery conceded that he was not making any assumptions on whether Richard read the owner's manual prior to the accident. In fact, Dr. Laughery indicated that Richard's behavior was typical of someone who either did not recall that the owner's manual included a section on converting from electric to manual use or someone who had not read the manual in the first place.
[¶ 21.] Nevertheless, Karsts contend that Richard was entitled to a presumption that he read the provided warnings prior to the accident. They point out that in the context of moving-vehicle accidents, "[t]here is a presumption, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that a person killed in an accident was exercising due care for his protection at, and immediately before, the accident." Dehnert v. Garrett Feed Co., 84 S.D. 233, 236, 169 N.W.2d 719, 721 (1969). They further point out that this presumption has been extended to accidents resulting in amnesic plaintiffs. See Schultz & Lindsay Constr. Co. v. Erickson, 352 F.2d 425, 434 (8th Cir.1965). According to Karsts, "reading warnings is part of the exercise of due care[.]" Therefore, they contend that "the [circuit] court should have applied [a] presumption that [Richard] read the warnings."
[¶ 22.] The presumption of due care afforded persons injured or killed in moving-vehicle accidents cannot be extended to create a presumption that Richard read the warning in Shur's manual. The presumption of due care articulated in Dehnert "is based on the natural instinct of self-preservation and the normal disposition to avoid self-destruction or personal harm." Dehnert, 84 S.D. at 236, 169 N.W.2d at 721. Therefore, for the presumption to be operative, the injured person must necessarily appreciate the danger inherent in the activity. Yet Karsts concede that "there was no evidence [Richard] knew of the danger of converting from electric to manual with the tarp open." Additionally, Karsts' expert witnesses negated the basis for a presumption in cases involving the reading of an instruction manual. Dr. Laughery indicated that most people do not read instruction manuals. And Dr. Warren indicated that he agreed with the "general premise" that "most people who purchase products don't read the owner's manual." Thus, the basis for presuming a consumer has read the warnings in an instruction manual is not present here. We cannot extend the general presumption of due care in operating an automobile to a presumption that Richard read the particular warnings that were given in this case.
[¶ 23.] Karsts finally contend that summary judgment on their inadequate-warning claim was improper because the placement of the warning label on the equipment was inadequate. Karsts submitted an affidavit from Dr. Laughery stating that a label placed on the sleeve of the roll tube "is more likely to be effective." Karsts claim that even if Richard had not read the manual or label, a jury question existed as to whether Shur's placement of the label at the flex arm's base was inadequate.
[¶ 24.] The "failure to read a warning does not necessarily bar recovery where ... the plaintiff claims inadequate communication of the warning caused the failure to read it." In re Levaquin Prods. Liab. Litigation, 700 F.3d 1161, 1168 (8th Cir.2012). Karsts' claim is premised on the affidavit of Dr. Laughery. Defendants asked the circuit court to strike the affidavit. They asserted that it was new opinion evidence submitted after the expert-disclosure deadline for the purpose of avoiding summary judgment. The circuit court denied the motion. On appeal, Defendants continue to assert that Dr. Laughery's affidavit was improper. Defendants also assert that even if the affidavit is considered, it is not sufficient to raise a genuine issue
[¶ 25.] We agree with the circuit court that the affidavit was proper. We acknowledge that "[a]n issue of material fact will not be created by a party who attempts to change its testimony without an explanation for its change or a showing that its answers were ambiguous and that the new affidavit merely seeks to clarify that testimony." DFA Dairy Fin. Servs., L.P. v. Lawson Special Tr., 2010 S.D. 34, ¶ 21, 781 N.W.2d 664, 670. But this rule contemplates "a substantial change in testimony[,]" id., and it is meant to prevent a party from "creat[ing] issues of material fact by contradicting his own earlier sworn testimony[,]" Guilford v. Nw. Pub. Serv., 1998 S.D. 71, ¶ 12, 581 N.W.2d 178, 181. Here, Defendants have not directed our attention to any unexplained contradictions between Dr. Laughery's affidavit and his earlier statements. Therefore, the court's consideration of the affidavit was proper.
[¶ 26.] Nevertheless, Dr. Laughery's affidavit was not sufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact regarding an improper-placement theory. According to Karsts, Dr. Laughery expressed an "opinion that a warning should have been located on the sleeve covering the spline where a user would see it during the conversion process." At oral argument, Karsts also asserted that an inadequate-warning opinion was given in both Dr. Laughery's report and deposition. Based on the report, the deposition, and the affidavit, Karsts contend that they "presented evidence that the warning was improperly located[.]" Shur responds that Dr. Laughery's affidavit did not express an opinion "that placing the label at the base of the flex arms was inadequate." Wilson responds that Dr. Laughery "did not criticize the location of the warning label in his report or during his deposition." Karsts reply that such arguments "elevate[] form over substance."
[¶ 27.] "Those resisting summary judgment must show that they will be able to place sufficient evidence in the record at trial to support findings on all the elements on which they have the burden of proof." Barton Solvents, 2014 S.D. 70, ¶ 16, 855 N.W.2d at 150 (emphasis omitted) (quoting Chem-Age Indus., Inc. v. Glover, 2002 S.D. 122, ¶ 18, 652 N.W.2d 756, 765). In a failure-to-warn case, the plaintiff must "identify specific, affirmative evidence indicating that the ... warnings were inadequate." Id. ¶ 22, 855 N.W.2d at 152 (emphasis added). Dr. Laughery's evidence did not meet that standard. Although Dr. Laughery's affidavit mentions the placement of the supplied warnings, the affidavit only offers an inadequacy opinion on the issue of warning content. Additionally, the introduction and conclusion of the affidavit indicate Dr. Laughery was responding to the question whether Richard read the warnings that were given. Ultimately, instead of opining that the placement of the warning label was inadequate, Dr. Laughery went no further than to express an opinion that an additional warning may have been "appropriate." He stated:
Further, we find no inadequacy-of-placement opinion in Dr. Laughery's deposition or report.
[¶ 28.] As the nonmoving party, Karsts "may only avoid [properly supported] summary
[¶ 29.] Summary judgment was correctly granted on Karsts' failure-to-warn claims involving both content and placement theories. Karsts did not present evidence sufficient for a jury to infer that Richard read the provided warnings prior to the accident, and there is no presumption that he did. Without such evidence, Karsts could not meet their burden of establishing causation between the alleged deficiencies in the content of the provided warnings and the injury Richard suffered as a result of the accident. Karsts also failed to provide expert testimony establishing that the provided warnings were inadequately placed. Therefore, the circuit court did not err in granting Defendants summary judgment on Karsts' failure-to-warn claims.
[¶ 30.] At trial, Defendants asserted they could not be held liable for Richard's injuries because he assumed the risk of injury. "[A] person assumes the risk of injury when the person: `(1) [has] actual or constructive knowledge of the risk; (2) appreciate[s] its character; and (3) voluntarily accept[s] the risk, with the time, knowledge, and experience to make an intelligent choice.'" Duda v. Phatty McGees, Inc., 2008 S.D. 115, ¶ 13, 758 N.W.2d 754, 758 (quoting Ray v. Downes, 1998 S.D. 40, ¶ 11, 576 N.W.2d 896, 898). According to Karsts, the circuit court erred in instructing the jury on assumption of the risk because "there was no evidence [Richard] knew of the danger of converting from electric to manual with the tarp open." Defendants argue that there was sufficient evidence to present the defense to the jury. Defendants also argue that this issue is moot because the
[¶ 31.] Karsts argue that under Instructions 23 and 27, "the jury considered the assumption-of-risk defense in making its negligence determination." Instruction 23 stated, in part: "If a person assumes the risk of injury or damage, the person is not entitled to any recovery." Instruction 27 stated, in part:
This latter instruction indicated that the jury should consider assumption of the risk before considering the question of the defendant's negligence. Therefore, Karsts contend that "[t]he jury's verdict finding that Shur-Co was not negligent ... did `consider' and `depend on' the assumption-of-risk defense."
[¶ 32.] Although Instructions 23 and 27 — taken alone — might suggest the jury considered assumption of the risk, all of the jury instructions, including the special-verdict form, must be read together. And any question that the jury might have considered the assumption-of-risk defense is dispelled by examining the special-verdict form. The special-verdict form required the jury to address these claims and defenses in a precise sequence. The form's introduction stated: "Please answer the following questions in the order in which they appear.... Carefully follow the instructions which appear after each question, and do not answer any question that you are instructed to not answer or skip." Question one asked the jury to decide whether Defendants were strictly liable for defective design. Question two asked the jury to decide whether Shur was liable for negligence. At the end of the second question, the form instructed: "If you did not find in favor of [Karsts] on either Question 1 or question 2, you are finished and should not answer any other questions. Have the foreperson sign and date the verdict form." The special-verdict form does not mention assumption of the risk until question five. In accordance with these instructions, the jury found in favor of Defendants on both questions one and two, marked the special-verdict form accordingly, and dutifully refrained from answering any other questions — including question five on Defendants' assumption-of-risk defense.
[¶ 33.] "Juries are presumed to follow instructions of the [circuit] court." Bland v. Davison Cty., 1997 S.D. 92, ¶ 15, 566 N.W.2d 452, 457. The special-verdict form prohibited the jury from considering assumption of the risk unless it had already determined that Karsts had met their burden of establishing the elements of negligence. Therefore, we must presume that the jury did not consider assumption of the risk. This issue is moot.
[¶ 34.] Because the circuit court granted summary judgment on all failure-to-warn claims, the court concluded that the provided warnings were irrelevant and the court excluded evidence of those warnings at trial. Karsts argue that regardless of our decision on their appeal of the summary judgment dismissing the failure-to-warn claims, "evidence related to manuals, labels, and instructions should have been admitted to rebut misleading testimony
[¶ 35.] The argument for use of the evidence to counter the assumption-of-risk defense is moot. Because the jury did not consider assumption of the risk, Karsts were not prejudiced by their inability to offer rebuttal evidence to the defense. As for impeachment, Defendants contend that any mention of product-warning materials during the trial was error invited by Karsts. Defendants also contend that Karsts were not prejudiced by this testimony.
[¶ 36.] Karsts argue that Defendants were allowed to "suggest" that there was a warning and a "safe procedure" communicated to Richard that he failed to follow. However, Karsts do not point to any specific testimony as objectionable. In Karsts' reply brief, they claim that a new trial is supported by "[t]he misconduct of Shur-Co's witness — the first to testify — violating defendants' motion in limine [by] testifying about ... warning[s.]" As Shur points out, however, this claim is misleading. The first witness called at trial was Wade Dangler. Although Dangler was an engineer employed by Shur, he was called to testify by Karsts. More importantly, Karsts' attorney invited the testimony to which Karsts now object. Dangler's testimony regarding warnings came as his answers to Karsts' counsel's questions accusing Shur of not telling its customers about the danger of standing on the platform or of removing the sleeve when the tarp was in the open position. The testimony was also Dangler's answer to Karsts' counsel's questions about the warning information that the manual included or failed to include.
[¶ 37.] "[A] party will not be heard to complain on appeal of errors which he himself induced or provoked the court or the opposite party to commit." Veith v. O'Brien, 2007 S.D. 88, ¶ 27, 739 N.W.2d 15, 24 (quoting Taylor Realty Co. v. Haberling, 365 N.W.2d 870, 873 (S.D. 1985)). In this case, an in limine ruling prohibited testimony about the warnings actually provided, but Karsts provoked such testimony by their questioning. We have stated that "when a party through his questions `opens the door' to admission of evidence, the party may not challenge the admission of that evidence." Id. By extension, a party cannot elicit testimony prohibited by an in limine ruling and then demand that the in limine ruling be set aside in order to introduce evidence to counter that testimony. To hold otherwise would permit a party to unilaterally bypass the in limine ruling.
[¶ 38.] Additionally, the court issued a curative instruction. Instruction 15A stated: "You should not consider whether there are any warnings, labels, or owner's manuals that may pertain to any of the issues you are being asked to decide. I have ruled that these matters are not relevant to the parties' claims." As with other instructions, "we presume that juries understand and abide by [curative] instructions." Baddou v. Hall, 2008 S.D. 90, ¶ 15, 756 N.W.2d 554, 559. Therefore, the circuit court did not err by refusing to admit evidence of the provided warnings.
[¶ 39.] Affirmed.
[¶ 40.] GILBERTSON, Chief Justice, and SEVERSON, Justice, and PORTRA, Circuit Court Judge, concur.
[¶ 41.] KERN, Justice, concurs in part and dissents in part.
[¶ 42.] PORTRA, Circuit Court Judge, sitting for WILBUR, Justice disqualified.
KERN, Justice (concurring in part and dissenting in part).
[¶ 43.] To the extent that the issue regarding the admission of Dr. Laughery's
[¶ 44.] While it is true that each sentence of Instruction 20 is a correct statement of law, it should not have been given for several reasons. First, in order to give this type of instruction, the moving party must make an initial showing that the facts of the case comport with the requirements of comment k of the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A. Second, Instruction 20 did not correctly define for the jury the necessary standard to determine whether the product was unreasonably dangerous. This standard is set forth in the consumer-expectation test. Finally, the instruction as given was a confusing conglomeration of legal principles that did little to guide the jury in fairly analyzing the complex claims presented.
[¶ 45.] The first sentence of Instruction 20 states, "A product can be dangerous without being unreasonably dangerous." The notion that "[a] product can be dangerous without being unreasonably dangerous" is derived from the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A, comment k.
[¶ 46.] Defendants, in this case, failed to make such a preliminary showing. Moreover, it was undisputed that the product
[¶ 47.] Second, the instruction failed to provide the correct standard to define an unreasonably dangerous product. Defendants argue that the law set forth in Instruction 20 was derived from the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A, comment i. However, comment i specifically provides the appropriate standard for determining whether a product is unreasonably dangerous — the standard which is lacking in Instruction 20. Comment i states that for a product to be unreasonably dangerous, it "must be dangerous to an extent beyond that which would be contemplated by the ordinary consumer who purchases it, with the ordinary knowledge common to the community as to its characteristics." Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A, cmt. i. This standard, known as the "consumer-expectation test," was not substantially contained within Defendants' Instruction 20.
[¶ 48.] The circuit court, in attempting to correctly instruct the jury, was placed in an untenable situation in light of the confusion caused by our decision in Kolcraft, 2004 S.D. 92, 686 N.W.2d 430. In Kolcraft, this Court reviewed the following jury instruction:
Id. ¶ 28, 686 N.W.2d at 444-45.
[¶ 49.] In determining whether the Kolcraft jury was correctly instructed, we held that the first two paragraphs of the instruction gave conflicting definitions of a defective product. Kolcraft, 2004 S.D. 92, ¶ 29, 686 N.W.2d at 445. We reversed and remanded with instructions to frame the two paragraphs in the disjunctive. Id. We did not discuss or endorse the third paragraph of the instruction. See id. The Kolcraft court noted that the plaintiff argued that "the `consumer expectation' test was inappropriate in a defective design case." Id. ¶ 28 n. 8. We declined to consider the issue because it was raised for the first time in a reply brief. Id.
[¶ 50.] Our decision in Kolcraft treats as mutually exclusive the risk-utility test advanced by Karsts in Instruction 19, and the consumer-expectation test advanced by Defendants, albeit in an inaccurate form, in Instruction 20. Id. ¶ 29, 686 N.W.2d at 445. Yet we also require a plaintiff to prove that a product is both defective and unreasonably dangerous. E.g., Peterson, 400 N.W.2d at 912. The difficulty with our position in Kolcraft is that the only provision in the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A that defines an unreasonably dangerous product is the consumer-expectation
[¶ 51.] Accordingly, we should take this opportunity to consider the current state of our strict products liability jurisprudence. It is clear from the arguments of counsel that our sole reliance on the out-dated principles contained in the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A is no longer workable. What is not so clear is where, precisely, South Dakota stands on formally adopting the risk-utility test as the exclusive test to be used in strict products-liability claims. See Robinson v. Brandtjen & Kluge, Inc., 500 F.3d 691, 696 n. 2 (8th Cir.2007) ("It is unclear whether South Dakota has adopted, or would adopt, the so-called `risk-utility test,' in addition to the consumer-expectations test of section 402A, for determining the existence of a defective condition"); Branham v. Ford Motor Co., 390 S.C. 203, 701 S.E.2d 5, 14 n. 13 (2010) (categorizing South Dakota as "an explicit either-or option" relating to risk-utility or consumer expectations (citing Kolcraft, 2004 S.D. 92, 686 N.W.2d 430)); N. Star Mut. Ins. v. CNH Am. LLC, 2014 WL 897023 (D.S.D.2014) (applying South Dakota law and using the risk-utility test).
[¶ 52.] The Restatement (Third) "adopts a reasonableness (`risk-utility balancing') test as the standard for judging the defectiveness of product designs ... [T]he test is whether a reasonable alternative design would, at reasonable cost, have reduced the foreseeable risks of harm posed by the product and, if so, whether the omission of the alternative design ... rendered the product not reasonably safe." Restatement (Third) of Torts: Prod. Liab. § 2, cmt. d.
Restatement (Third) of Torts: Prod. Liab. § 2, cmt. f. The specific adoption of these tenets would bring clarity and stability to our strict products-liability law. It would also provide badly needed direction to the bench and bar as to the correct standards to apply. Further, we would be joining the majority of states, which have fully shed the old consumer-expectation test for the more modern, revised risk-utility test as defined in the Restatement (Third).
[¶ 53.] Because the majority opinion has declined to adopt the risk-utility test as set forth in the Restatement (Third) as its exclusive test in strict products-liability claims for design defect, this discussion must wait for another day. In the interim, South Dakota law requires the plaintiff to prove that a product is both defective and unreasonably dangerous. An instruction that substantially complies with the consumer-expectation test must be given to meet the required "unreasonably dangerous" element. Although Kolcraft purports to allow an election between the risk-utility test or the consumer-expectation test, the risk-utility test requires consideration of consumer expectations under both the Restatement (Second) and (Third) of Torts.
[¶ 54.] Instruction 20 should not be given. It is a conglomeration of a remark made in reference to comment k of the Restatement (Second) § 402A, supra ¶ 46 a paraphrased sentence from the Restatement (Third) of Torts: Prod. Liab. § 2, comment a; and a cherry-picked portion from a jury instruction given in Wilson v. General Motors Corp., 311 N.W.2d 10, 13 (N.D.1981), which excludes the first-half of the instruction that originally contained the full consumer-expectation test. "Jury instructions should not be patched together from snippets of appellate opinions taken out of context but should rely first on the language of the statute." 75A Am. Jur. 2d Trial § 958. Instruction 20 was not discussed in Kolcraft and although the majority opinion has not found its use to constitute reversible error, neither has its use received a glowing endorsement.
[¶ 55.] As to the present case, "[n]o court has discretion to give incorrect, misleading, conflicting, or confusing instructions." State v. Whistler, 2014 S.D. 58, ¶ 13, 851 N.W.2d 905, 910 (quoting State v. Zephier, 2012 S.D. 16, ¶ 9, 810 N.W.2d 770, 772). However, "[t]o constitute reversible error, an instruction must be shown to be both erroneous and prejudicial, such that `in all probability [it] produced some effect upon the verdict and [was] harmful to the substantial rights of a party.'" Id. (quoting State v. Cottier, 2008 S.D. 79, ¶ 7, 755 N.W.2d 120, 125). The Karsts were prejudiced by Instruction 20.
[¶ 56.] Instruction 20 failed to provide an appropriate standard by which the jury could judge a dangerous product from an unreasonably dangerous product. The absence of an appropriate standard in Instruction 20 invited misleading and confusing arguments from Defendants, including contentions that the tarp system was not unreasonably dangerous because Richard continued to use the tarp after the accident and that Defendants were unaware of any other accidents or near misses involving the tarp system. It also paved the way for the following compare/contrast argument with unavoidably unsafe products, specifically referencing Instruction 20:
Because Instruction 20 was both erroneously given in its present form and prejudicial, I would reverse and remand for a new trial.
[¶ 57.] I also disagree that summary judgment was appropriate on Karsts' failure-to-warn claims. "Summary judgment is a drastic remedy, and should not be granted unless the moving party has established a right to a judgment with such clarity as to leave no room for controversy." Donald Bucklin Constr. v. McCormick Constr. Co., 2013 S.D. 57, ¶ 31, 835 N.W.2d 862, 869 (quoting Berbos v. Krage, 2008 S.D. 68, ¶ 15, 754 N.W.2d 432, 436). "Using summary judgment to dispose of claims that have ample evidence and questions for the jury goes beyond our repeatedly admonished use of summary judgment." Burley, 2007 S.D. 82, ¶ 52, 737 N.W.2d at 413 (Sabers, J., dissenting).
[¶ 58.] In relation to their inadequate warning claim, Karsts presented a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Richard read the owner's manual for the tarp system. When the tarp system malfunctioned, the first thing Richard did was check the electric systems and then the motor, consistent with the procedure contained in the owner's manual for troubleshooting. After this failed to rectify the problem, a witness observed Richard climb onto the trailer, look at the tarp system, and then come down and read something.
[¶ 59.] I reach the same result as to summary judgment on Karsts' inadequate placement claim. There was a warning label on the rear flex arm of the tarp system indicating that it was under spring tension. But the label was located at the base of the rear flex arm, several feet below the roll sleeve where the tension was actually held and where it was necessary to perform the work to convert the tarp system from electric to manual use. In Dr. Laughery's affidavit, he indicated that:
Thus, Dr. Laughery opined that warnings need to be appropriately positioned; that it would have been appropriate for a warning label to be placed on the roll sleeve of the rear flex arm; and that had the warning system been proper, Mr. Karst would have followed it.
[¶ 60.] The majority opinion parses words about Dr. Laughery's use of the term "appropriate" and finds his "statement about what might be an appropriate placement is not equivalent to the requisite opinion" — the requisite opinion being that the placement of the warning label "was actually inadequate." See supra ¶ 29. Without need to turn to the dictionary meaning of the word "appropriate," we can easily consider the context of the situation. The salient issue in Karsts' inadequate warning claim is whether there should have been a warning label on the roll sleeve. Dr. Laughery was asked to give his expert opinion regarding the placement of the warning label. It was his opinion that it would have been appropriate for a warning label to be placed on the roll sleeve. His testimony fulfilled the requirements of SDCL 19-19-702 and should have been admitted.
[¶ 61.] Finally, Defendants were not entitled to an instruction on assumption of the risk. "[A] person assumes the risk of injury when the person: `(1) [has] actual or constructive knowledge of the risk; (2) appreciate[s] its character; and (3) voluntarily accept[s] the risk, with the time, knowledge, and experience to make an intelligent choice.'" Phatty McGees, 2008 S.D. 115, ¶ 13, 758 N.W.2d at 758 (quoting Ray, 1998 S.D. 40, ¶ 11, 576 N.W.2d at 898). "Failure to establish any one of the... three criteria [is] fatal to [an assumption-of-the-risk] defense[.]" Westover v. E. River Elec. Power Coop., Inc., 488 N.W.2d 892, 901 (S.D.1992). As an initial matter, the majority opinion foreclosed any actual knowledge Richard may have had of the risk when it accepted Karsts' concession that "there was no evidence [Richard] knew of the danger of converting from electric to manual with the tarp open" as a basis to deny a presumption of due care. See supra ¶ 22. That leaves constructive knowledge.
[¶ 62.] Constructive knowledge is "imputed if the risk is so plainly observable that `anyone of competent faculties could be charged with knowledge of it.'" Goepfert v. Filler, 1997 S.D. 56, ¶ 8, 563 N.W.2d 140,
(Emphasis added.) Moreover, Shur's lead engineer testified at trial that in order to tell if the torsion spring was under tension, one must know "what to look for." Tom Heinen, a twenty-year employee of the grain elevator where the accident occurred, testified that he did not know it was dangerous to remove the flex arm in the manner Richard did and that he did not anticipate that there would be tension on the flex arm. He further testified that he thought that when Richard removed the flex arm, it would "be in the loose position." Unlike the situation in Goepfert, where the plaintiff jumped from a moving car, the risk in this case was not plainly observable.
[¶ 63.] For the same reasons, Richard could not have appreciated the risk associated with removing the roll sleeve. See Thomas v. St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 283 N.W.2d 254, 260 (S.D.1979) ("[A] plaintiff must only be held to assume the risk he appreciates, not the risk [that] he does not.") Defendants produced no evidence that Richard knew of the dangerously high level of tension he would encounter while converting the open tarp from electric to manual mode. The extent of this danger was not plainly observable and of the type that any reasonably competent person could be charged with knowledge of the risk.
[¶ 64.] Karsts' substantial rights were also prejudiced by the assumption-of-the-risk instruction. The majority opinion relies on the special verdict form and the sequential order in which it was formatted to conclude that the jury did not consider assumption of the risk. However, the jury sat through a 12-day trial wherein Defendants wove their defense that Richard assumed the risk throughout their evidence — the same risk of which he had no knowledge. For example, Defendants argued that Richard assumed the risk by holding onto the flex arm while he was removing it. Defendants then proposed several theories about how the flex arm could have been removed more safely (i.e. holding the flex arm down during removal, tying the flex arm down with rope, using a ladder to approach the flex arm on the side instead of behind it), all the while knowing that Karsts could not rebut with their failure-to-warn evidence. This evidence would have informed the jury that neither the user manual nor the warning label mentioned the need to use a separate platform or tie back the spring arm during repair. All of this culminated in Defendants' closing argument with the statement, "I'm advocating for Shur-Co and asking you to find Mr. Karst assumed the risk." It would be naive to disregard the real-world impact that this would have had on the jury.
[¶ 65.] Karsts' inability to present their evidence of the inadequate warnings to rebut the affirmative defense further compounded the error and the prejudice. I would reverse and remand to allow Karsts to present their evidence for the jury's consideration under a correct set of instructions.
Several courts have reached the opposite result. See Cronin v. J.B.E. Olson Corp., 8 Cal.3d 121, 104 Cal.Rptr. 433, 501 P.2d 1153, 1163 (1972) (en banc); McAlpine v. Rhone-Poulenc Ag Co., 304 Mont. 31, 16 P.3d 1054, 1057-59 (2000); Freund v. Cellofilm Props., Inc., 87 N.J. 229, 432 A.2d 925, 931 (1981). However, Karsts do not cite these cases, similar cases, or any other authority suggesting that we abandon the Restatements' causality requirement.
Further, later in Dr. Laughery's deposition, he specifically opined on the content of the provided warnings, describing them as inadequate. In contrast, on the issue of placement, his affidavit merely comments that the placement of a warning on the sleeve would have been appropriate and more likely to be effective than the label actually supplied. However, simply indicating that Placement 1 is appropriate or better than Placement 2 does not establish that Placement 2 is inadequate unless it is also established that Placement 1 is the minimum standard.
Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A, cmt. k.