Gaylon H. Mcgowan, Administrator Ad Prosequendum of Theestate of Valerie Joyce Mcgowan, Deceased, Generaladministrator of the Estate of Valerie Joyce Mcgowan,deceased, and Gaylon H. Mcgowan and Gloria Mcgowan, Individually v. University of Scranton, a Corporation of the Commonwealth Ofpennsylvania, Gloria Gavin, R.n., and Tampax,inc., a Corporation of the State of Delaware.appeal of Gaylon H. Mcgowan, 837 F.2d 1242 (3d Cir. 1988)
Annotate this CaseDecided Feb. 1, 1988
Anne P. McHugh, Stephan Mashel, Pellettieri, Rabstein and Altman, Trenton, N.J., for appellants.
Roger E. Podesta, Joseph P. Moodhe, Debevoise & Plimpton, New York City, Jeffrey B. Rettig, Thomas & Thomas, Harrisburg, Pa., for appellee, Tambrands Inc.
Before GIBBONS, Chief Judge, and WEIS and BECKER, Circuit Judges.
OPINION OF THE COURT
GIBBONS, Chief Judge:
This diversity case is a wrongful death action arising out of toxic shock syndrome allegedly caused by tampons manufactured by the defendant, Tampax, Inc. In 1983, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of Tampax, Inc. on the ground that under Pennsylvania law the action was time barred. This court, relying on a Pennsylvania Superior Court decision in Pastierik v. Duquesne Light Co., 341 Pa.Super. 329, 491 A.2d 841 (1985) (per curiam), reversed the summary judgment. McGowan v. University of Scranton, 759 F.2d 287 (3d Cir. 1985). The decision on which we relied suggested that the discovery rule might be applicable to actions falling within 42 Pa.S.C.A. Sec. 5524(2). Following our remand, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania reversed the Superior Court decision on which we relied. Pastierik v. Duquesne Light Co., 514 Pa. 517, 526 A.2d 323 (1987). The district court, applying the law announced in the later Pennsylvania case, once again granted summary judgment in favor of Tampax, Inc. This appeal followed.
The plaintiffs' sole contention is that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in Pastierik ought to be applied prospectively only. That question is one of Pennsylvania law. Guaranty Trust Co. v. York, 326 U.S. 99, 65 S. Ct. 1464, 89 L. Ed. 2079 (1945). The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in Pastierik did not overrule any of its prior precedents. It merely reversed what it considered to be an incorrect Superior Court interpretation of a state statute of limitations. No Pennsylvania authorities have been called to our attention suggesting that the Pennsylvania Court would apply the Superior Court's erroneous statutory interpretation to pending cases.
The judgment appealed from will, therefore, be affirmed.
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
