Eagle West Insurance Company v. Watts Regulator Co. et al, No. 2:2016cv00781 - Document 45 (W.D. Wash. 2017)

Court Description: ORDER granting in part and denying in part Defendant's 31 Motion for Summary Judgment. Plaintiff's motion to strike (Dkt. No. 38 ) is DENIED. Signed by U.S. District Judge John C Coughenour.(TH)

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Eagle West Insurance Company v. Watts Regulator Co. et al Doc. 45 THE HONORABLE JOHN C. COUGHENOUR 1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 8 9 EAGLE WEST INSURANCE COMPANY, 10 Plaintiff, 11 CASE NO. C16-0781-JCC ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT v. 12 AMTROL, INC., 13 Defendant. 14 15 16 This matter comes before the Court on Defendant Amtrol’s motion for summary 17 judgment (Dkt. No. 31). Plaintiff also asks the Court to strike exhibits presented in support of 18 Defendant’s motion. (Dkt. No. 38.) Having thoroughly considered the parties’ briefing and the 19 relevant record, the Court finds oral argument unnecessary and hereby DENIES Plaintiff’s 20 motion to strike and GRANTS in part and DENIES in part Defendant’s motion for summary 21 judgment for the reasons explained herein. 22 I. 23 BACKGROUND 1 On May 20, 2015, a leak occurred on the third floor of a condominium complex owned 24 25 26 1 This section, as is appropriate on summary judgment, presents the facts in a light most favorable to the non-moving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986). ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 by Cypress Place Condominium Association (“Cypress Place”), causing water damage to 2 multiple units in the complex. (Dkt. Nos. 1-1 at 3, 32-1 at 2.) The leak originated from a water 3 expansion tank—the THERM-X-TROL Model No. ST-5—designed, manufactured, and sold by 4 Defendant Amtrol, Inc. (“Amtrol”). (Dkt. Nos. 6 at 4, 31 at 2.) Water flow into the tank was 5 controlled by a water pressure regulating valve manufactured, supplied, and distributed by 6 Defendant Watts Regulator Co. (“Watts”). (Dkt. Nos. 1-1, 31 at 2.) Plaintiff Eagle West Insurance 7 Company (“Eagle West”), subrogree of Cypress Place Condominium Owner’s Association, brought 8 a product liability claim against both Amtrol and Watts for damages resulting from the leak. 2 (Dkt. 9 No. 1-1.) 10 Water expansion tanks are paired with hot water heaters in domestic and commercial 11 water systems to manage routine changes in pressure and volume resulting from use and 12 temperature change. (Dkt. No. 32-1 at 18.) Expansion tanks contain a sealed-in flexible rubber 13 bladder that separates the internal chamber into water and air sides. When thermal expansion 14 occurs, the bladder compresses into the air side to provide space for increased water volume. 15 (Dkt. No. 31-1 at 21.) The air side of the tank is pre-pressurized to match domestic water 16 pressure and balance expansion, so when pressure decreases, the bladder relaxes. (Dkt. No. 32 at 17 3.) In systems like the one at Cypress Place, increased water pressure cannot be forced back into 18 the municipal supply line and must be 19 absorbed by the internal system; without 20 an expansion tank or other pressure relief 21 mechanism, a water heater and plumbing 22 system risk unsafe pressure buildup. Id. 23 at 20. 24 25 2 26 Watts has since been dismissed from this suit. (Dkt. No. 18.) In this order, the term “Defendant” refers only to Amtrol, Inc. ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 2 1 Amtrol manufactures expansion tanks in a variety of sizes and with a variety of features. 2 Tanks are sized according to the size and temperature setting of the attached hot water tank and 3 system pressure. (Dkt. No. 31 at 3.) The subject ST-5 tank is the smallest model and does not 4 come with features offered on more expensive tanks, such as American Society of Mechanical 5 Engineers (“ASME”) certification or a sight glass. (Dkt. No. 31 at 3; Dkt. No. 42 at 11.) The ST- 6 5 is indicated for systems with a 50 gal tank and static supply pressure of 60 psi and has a 7 maximum working pressure of 150 psi. (Dkt. No. 32-1 at 14.) The tank is shipped with a pre- 8 charge in the air side of the tank of 40 psi, which product instructions state must be adjusted at 9 installation to match the system’s static water pressure. (Id. at 4, 14.) Water pressure at Cypress 10 Place was regulated by a Watts automated control valve (“ACV”). (Dkt. No. 32-1 at 5.) The 11 valve was set to maintain a maximum pressure of 80 psi, but Plaintiff’s expert, Kent Engineering 12 (“Kent”), testified that routine pressure on the third floor was between 45 and 60 psi. (Dkt. Nos. 13 32-1 at 8, 44 at 2.) Kent measured water pressure at the third floor on the day of the leak at 90 14 and 98 psi. Id. At no point in Kent’s investigation were pressures measured to be over 123 psi. 15 (Id.) 16 On December 21, 2015, Kent produced a preliminary opinion attributing the tank rupture to 17 an AVC malfunction that allowed over pressurization in the water system. (Dkt. No. 32-1 at 2, 5.) 18 Kent initially reported that excess pressure caused the internal bladder in the Amtrol tank to develop 19 a leak, permitting water to enter and corrode the air side of the tank. Id. Kent issued a follow-up 20 report on June 21, 2017, revising its opinion after further laboratory testing of the valve and tank. 21 (Dkt. No. 32-1.) The new report concluded that tank failure was not, in fact, caused by over 22 pressurization in the water system. Id. Rather, Kent believed that internal corrosion on the bare air 23 side of the tank chamber began a chain reaction that led the tank to rupture. Air added at installation 24 to balance tank pressure introduced humidity into the air side of the tank, which condensated on the 25 internal tank wall, causing corrosion. The corrosion produced a rough surface at the point of contact 26 with the rubber bladder, eroding the bladder and leading the bladder and seal to fail. Water was then ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 3 1 able to flow freely into the tank’s air side, causing further corrosion, and ultimately, tank rupture. 2 (Dkt. No. 32-1 at 9). Based on these findings, Plaintiff’s expert opined that the Amtrol ST-5 tank was 3 defectively designed in that it failed to prevent this failure at multiple points. (Dkt. No. 32-1 at 11.) 4 Plaintiff brought a product liability claim against Defendants Amtrol and Watts alleging 5 the valve and tank were “designed, manufactured and sold . . . in a defective and unreasonably 6 dangerous condition.” (Dkt. No. 1-1.) Defendant Watts was dismissed from this action. (Dkt. No. 7 18.) Defendant Amtrol now moves for summary judgement on Plaintiff’s product liability 8 claims. (Dkt. No. 31.) 9 II. DISCUSSION 10 A. Summary Judgement Standard 11 The Court shall grant summary judgment if the moving party demonstrates that there is 12 no genuine dispute as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a 13 matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). In making such a determination, the Court views the facts 14 and justifiable inferences to be drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to the nonmoving 15 party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255. The moving party bears the initial burden to show the absence 16 of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). The 17 opposing party must then “come forward with ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine 18 issue for trial.’” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986) 19 (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e)). Material facts are those that may affect the outcome of the case, 20 and a dispute about a material fact is genuine if there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury 21 to return a verdict for the non-moving party. Id. at 248-49. Conclusory, non-specific statements 22 in affidavits are not sufficient, and “missing facts” will not be “presumed.” Lujan v. Nat’l 23 Wildlife Fed’n, 497 U.S. 871, 888–89 (1990). Ultimately, summary judgment is appropriate 24 against a party who “fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element 25 essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” 26 Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324. ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 4 1 B. Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike 2 As an initial matter, Plaintiff asserts that all exhibits supporting Defendant’s summary 3 judgment motion should be stricken because they are not appropriately authenticated. (Dkt. No. 4 38.) In reply, Defendant asks the Court to sanction Plaintiff for presenting this “frivolous” 5 argument. (Dkt. No. 42 at 3.) 6 A party is not required to produce evidence supporting a motion for summary judgment 7 in a form that would be admissible at trial, as long as it can explain the anticipated admissible 8 form of the evidence. Block v. City of Los Angeles, 253 F.3d 410, 418-19 (9th Cir. 2001); see 9 Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(2) commentary to 2010 amendment; see also Fraser v. Goodale, 342 F.3d 10 1032, 1036 (9th Cir. 2003). The Court is satisfied with Defendant’s explanation of how the 11 disputed evidence could be authenticated at trial. (See Dkt. No. 42 at 2-3.) 12 13 The Court therefore DENIES Plaintiff’s motion to strike Defendant’s exhibits. (Dkt. No. 38). The Court does not find sanctions appropriate here. 14 C. Washington Product Liability Act 15 The Court has diversity jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332, and as 16 such must apply Washington law. Snead v. Metro Prop & Cas. Ins. Co., 237 F.3d 1080, 1090 17 (9th Cir. 2001). Plaintiff’s claim arises under the Washington Product Liability Act (“WPLA”), 18 the exclusive remedy for product liability claims in Washington. Washington Water Power Co. v. 19 Graybar Elec. Co., 774 P.2d 1199, 1203-04 (Wash. 1989). The WPLA imposes liability on a 20 manufacturer for a claimant’s harm proximately caused by a product “not reasonably safe as 21 designed” (“defective design”) or “not reasonably safe because adequate warnings or instructions 22 were not provided” (“failure to warn”). Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.030(1). A plaintiff can establish 23 liability for defective design or failure to warn through either a “risk-utility” or “consumer 24 expectations” theory. Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.030(3); Kirkland v. Emhart Glass S.A, 805 F. 25 Supp. 2d 1072, 1076 (W.D. Wash. 2011). 26 In the instant case, Plaintiff argues both design defect and failure to warn as bases for ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 5 1 product liability, asserting risk utility and consumer expectations theories for both. (Dkt. No. 38 2 at 7-12.) Defendant moves for summary judgment on the following issues (1) Amtrol’s ST-5 3 tank was reasonably safe as designed, (2) Amtrol provided adequate warning and instructions 4 with the tank, and (3) any design defect or inadequate warning did not proximately cause 5 Plaintiff’s harm. (Dkt. No. 5-6.) 6 1. Defective Design 7 Defendant asks the Court to dismiss Plaintiff’s claim on the grounds that the Amtrol ST-5 8 tank was reasonably safe as designed, and asserts that Plaintiff lacks evidence to show otherwise. 9 (Dkt. No. 31.) Plaintiff maintains that the tank rupture resulted from defects in the tank design 10 identified by its expert, including (1) noncompliance with ASME requirements for thin-walled 11 vessel corrosion allowance, (2) lack of a mechanism, such as a sight glass, to allow an ordinary 12 consumer to know if the bladder has failed, (3) failure to secure the bladder and secondary seal in 13 a manner that prevents water from entering the dry side of the tank, (4) failure to protect against 14 corrosion that results when air pressure is added at installation, and (5) failure to design the tank 15 to withstand pressure fluctuations in the water system. (Dkt. No. 38 at 2-3.) 16 Risk-utility Test: The risk-utility test balances a product’s likelihood to “cause the 17 claimant’s harm or similar harms and the seriousness of those harms,” with “the burden on the 18 manufacturer to design a product that would have prevented those harms and the adverse effect 19 that a [practical and feasible] alternative design . . . would have on the usefulness of the 20 product.” Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.030(1)(a). The plaintiff bears the burden of showing that risk 21 factors outweigh the adverse effect of an alternative design. Id. 22 Defendant asserts that the ST-5 tank is not defectively designed because the type of harm 23 experienced by Plaintiff is extremely unlikely. (Dkt. No. 31 at 8.) Amtrol receives an average of 24 30 claims a year for failed thermal expansion tanks out of 500,000 sold. Id. Plaintiff answers that 25 the number of annual complaints indicates Defendant knows tank failures like theirs occur, 26 and—considering that seven tanks failed at Cypress Place—it is likely that more tanks fail than ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 6 1 are reported. (Dkt. No. 38 at 10.) Plaintiff characterizes damages from water loss as serious, 2 amounting to over $168000 in this instance alone. Id. 3 Plaintiff identifies two primary alternative designs under the risk-utility theory—the 4 addition of a sight glass, and change in tank material to comply with ASME standards 3—and 5 points to similar Amtrol tank models with these features. (Dkt. No. 38 at 11.) Defendant 6 characterizes these alternative designs as “speculative,” arguing that Plaintiff has not produced 7 evidence regarding practicality, feasibility, or cost. (Dkt. No. 31 at 8.) Defendants further argue 8 that providing a range of models and choices to the consumer does not amount to a design defect. 9 (Dkt. No. 42 at 5.) 10 A plaintiff may sustain its burden to show that “the challenged product’s risk outweighs 11 the adverse effect of an alternative design” by identifying an existing alternative product that 12 “more safely serves the same purpose . . . at a comparable cost and in a similar manner.” Ruiz- 13 Guzman v. Amvac Chemical Corp., 7 P.3d 795, 798–99 (Wash. 2000); see also Lamon, v. 14 McDonnell Douglas Corp., 588 P.2d 1346, 1349-50 (Wash. 1979) (comparison of airplane 15 escape hatch with competitor’s design “[raised] the inference that a reasonable alternative design 16 which poses less risk [was] feasible); see also Higgins v. Intex Recreation Corporation, 99 P.3d 17 42, 424-25 (Wash. Ct. App. 2004) (a reasonable juror could find that sledding tube without 18 ridges was not reasonably safe as designed where manufacturer offered a tube with ridges that 19 was safer but not significantly slower). Thus, consumer choice of features does not necessarily 20 make a product reasonably safe as designed. The Court does not find convincing Defendant’s 21 argument that the plumber made the risk-utility analysis himself when he chose the cheaper 22 model with fewer features. (See Dkt. No. 42 at 11.) This line of reasoning would endorse a race 23 to the bottom in safety standards and an economic hierarchy for acceptable risk exposure. 24 25 26 3 Plaintiff’s assertion that compliance with ASME standards is a mandatory manufacturing requirement is not supported by evidence in the record. (Dkt. No. 38 at 11.) However ASME standards are relevant evidence of feasibility as industry custom. See Falk v. Keene Corp., 782 P.2d 974, 980 (Wash. 1989). ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 7 1 Viewing the evidence in Plaintiff’s favor, a comparison of the Amtrol ST-5 with other 2 tank models could allow a reasonable juror to infer that adding a sight glass and ASME certified 3 materials would make the tank safer without impacting its function or overly burdening the 4 manufacturer. 5 Consumer Expectation Test: To prevail under the consumer expectation test, a plaintiff 6 must show that the product is more dangerous than an “ordinary” or “reasonable” consumer 7 would expect. Higgins, 99 P.3d. at 828. It is not necessary to show a feasible alternative design 8 under this theory. Ruiz-Guzman, 7 P.3d at 800. Consumer expectations are based on the “class of 9 persons expected to use the product.” Kerzman v. NCH Corp. at 4. 10 Plaintiff asserts that the ST-5 tank’s design does not meet consumer expectations for 11 safety because its safe life is actually only 5 years, which is below what the ordinary consumer 12 would expect. (Dkt. Nos. 38 at 11, 40 at 5.) Plaintiff’s alleged product defects not addressed 13 under the risk-utility test relate to life-span of the product and fit within its consumer 14 expectations theory. Plaintiff bases these consumer expectations on its interpretation of the 15 WPLA’s safe life presumption. Under the WPLA, if a product does not specify a safe life, harm 16 “caused more than twelve years after the time of delivery” is presumed to have been caused after 17 the product’s useful safe life; a plaintiff must rebut this presumption to impose product liability. 18 Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.060(1). From this, Plaintiff infers that “it is fair to assume that ordinary 19 consumers in Washington reasonably expect that a product will last at least 12 years” unless 20 otherwise specified. (Dkt. No. 38 at 11.) Defendant characterizes this as an attempt to formulate 21 “an alternative cause of action against any product which fails in under twelve years.” (Dkt. No. 22 42 at 9.) The Court disagrees with this interpretation of Plaintiff’s theory, but does not find 23 Plaintiff’s inference alone dispositive. 24 Consumer expectation of product safety is a question for the jury, which can consider 25 Plaintiff’s theory along with other relevant evidence. See Kirkland, 805 F. Supp. 2d at 1080. 26 Factors considered in determining consumer expectations include the “intrinsic nature of the ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 8 1 product, its relative cost, the severity of potential harm from the claimed defect, and the cost and 2 feasibility of minimizing the risk.” Id. Industry custom and compliance with nongovernmental 3 and legislative standards may be relevant in certain cases. Falk, 782 P.2d at 980. 4 Whether or not the WPLA presumption is a convincing measure for consumer 5 expectations, viewing the facts in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, there is sufficient evidence 6 in the record for a reasonable juror to determine that the tank did not conform with consumer 7 expectations regarding how long it would safely function. First, the product sits in a utility closet 8 and many ordinary consumers may not know its purpose or functionality. Second, the tank costs 9 only $40, but a consumer may not have purchased or installed the tank and cannot necessarily be 10 expected to infer a short safe life from this factor. (See Dkt. No. 32-1 at 25.) Third, the harm in 11 this instance was $168000, an amount a reasonable juror could consider severe. Fourth, the tank 12 does not comply with nongovernmental industry standards for this type of product. (Dkt. No. 39 13 at 1.) Finally, according to Plaintiff’s expert, risk could be minimized by preventing tank 14 corrosion through low cost alternatives such as coating the air chamber or replacing it with 15 stainless steel. (Dkt. No. 32-1.) 16 The Court finds that Plaintiff has made a showing sufficient for a reasonable juror to find 17 that the tank was unreasonably safe as designed under the risk-utility or consumer expectations 18 test. 19 20 2. Defective Design and Proximate Cause To establish manufacturer liability under the WPLA for a defective design, a plaintiff 21 must show that the claimed design defects proximately caused its harm. See Wash. Rev. Code 22 § 7.72.030(1). 23 Proximate cause is “a cause which in direct sequence [unbroken by any new independent 24 cause] produces the injury complained of and without which such injury would not have 25 happened.” Indoor Billboard/Wash., Inc. v. Integra Telecom of Wash., Inc., 170 P.3d 10, 21 26 (Wash. 2007). It is comprised of two elements: cause in fact and legal causation. Dewar v. Smith, ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 9 1 342 P.3d 328, 337 (Wash. Ct. App. 2015). Defendant contends that Plaintiff has failed to 2 produce evidence establishing that a defect in the ST-5 tank’s design caused its rupture as a 3 factual or legal matter. (Dkt. No. 31 at 13.) 4 Cause in Fact: Cause in fact refers to the “but for consequences of an act”—what “has in 5 fact occurred.” Hartley v. State, 698 P.2d 77, 83 (Wash. 1985). The “determination of what 6 actually occurred . . . is generally left to the jury.” Id. Such a question is appropriately 7 determined on summary judgment only when “facts are undisputed” and the resulting inferences 8 are “plain and incapable of reasonable doubt or difference of opinion.” Baughn v. Honda Motor 9 Co., Ltd., 727 P.2d 655, 664 (Wash. 1986). 10 The parties dispute the underlying cause of the tank rupture. Plaintiff presents evidence to 11 show that the tank failure was brought on by the introduction of air into the tank at installation 12 and defects in tank design that failed to prevent subsequent internal corrosion, degradation of the 13 bladder and seal between chambers, and ultimate tank rupture. (Dkt. No. 38 at 3.) Plaintiff argues 14 that if the design (1) didn’t require the addition of air at installation, (2) more effectively dealt 15 with fluctuations in water system pressure, (3) took steps to prevent initial corrosion once air was 16 added (using a different material or coating the internal air chamber), (4) provided a sight glass 17 as a failsafe to allow consumers to identify when the internal bladder had failed, or (5) more 18 effectively secured the secondary seal intended to keep the air chamber sealed off from the water 19 chamber after bladder failure, the tank rupture would have been avoided. (Dkt. No. 38.) Rather 20 than asserting a single alternative theory of causation, Defendant challenges the sufficiency of 21 Plaintiff’s proof of its theory on multiple grounds. 22 First, Defendant challenges Plaintiff’s assertion that the ST-5 tank failed due to product 23 defects after air was introduced into the dry side of the tank, on the grounds that Plaintiff has not 24 offered evidence showing that the installer added air to the tank or that air, if added, contained 25 humidity. (Dkt. 42 at 6.) Defendant avers that “because Plaintiff cannot show that installation 26 was proper, Plaintiff cannot remove the ultimate failure of the Amtrol, Inc. tank out of the realm ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 10 1 2 of speculation and conjecture.” Id. The burden of production on summary judgment requires a non-movant bearing the 3 burden of proof at trial to put forward facts that could allow a reasonable juror to find in their 4 favor. See Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 324. A moving party does not get to dictate what type of 5 proof is offered. It is true that Plaintiff does not offer direct testimony from the installer 6 regarding circumstances of tank installation. However, other evidence in the record, viewed in a 7 light most favorable to Plaintiff, creates a genuine issue of material fact regarding the cause of 8 the tank rupture. Plaintiff’s expert performed extensive testing and material analysis on the failed 9 tank, other Amtrol expansion tanks in the building, the AVC valve feeding the subject tank, and 10 the building water system. (Dkt. No. 39-1.) Based on this investigation, experience investigating 11 other expansion tank failures, and Amtrol’s own installation instructions, the expert inferred that 12 air added to the tank at installation, coupled with design defects “[led] to the progression of 13 damage and eventual catastrophic failure of the subject tank.” Id. This evidence is sufficient for a 14 reasonable juror to agree with Plaintiff’s theory of causation. 15 Furthermore, Defendants argue that Plaintiff has not presented evidence sufficient to 16 establish the following “assumptions . . . fundamental to plaintiff’s case in chief”: (1) the Watts 17 AVC properly maintained incoming water pressure below 80 psi; (2) the plumbing system and 18 tank were annually inspected and maintained; (3) the ST-5 tank was not undersized for the 19 intended use, and (4) the installer properly add air at installation to balance incoming water 20 pressure. (Dkt. No. 42 at 4.) 21 Plaintiff raises issues of materiality and fact regarding each of these assumptions, citing 22 to its expert’s multiple reports and declaration, and its deposition of Amtrol’s 30(b)(6) witness. 23 Plaintiff asserts facts as follows: First, expert testimony concluded the tank rupture was not 24 caused by failure of the Watts ACV because water pressure monitored by Plaintiff’s expert never 25 reached the ST-5 tank’s maximum of 150 psi and water pressure on the floor where the rupture 26 occurred was significantly lower due to gravity. (Dkt. No. 38 at 3.) Second, failure to follow ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 11 1 maintenance recommendations is irrelevant due to Defendant’s inadequate instructions. (Id. at 4.) 2 Third, choice of tank size did not cause the rupture because water pressure on the third floor was 3 typically between 45 and 60 psi—a level suitable for an ST-5 tank—and, according to product 4 specifications, the ST-5 should have withstood water pressures in the building. (Id. at 3.) Finally, 5 although Plaintiff presents no direct evidence regarding tank air pressure adjustment at 6 installation, Plaintiff disputes the relevance of this evidence because pressure fluctuations in 7 water systems are expected, and Defendant does not provide evidentiary support for its claim 8 that under pressurization of the tank shortens bladder lifespan. (Id. at 4.) Plaintiff’s offer of proof 9 on these issues and its own theory of causation raises genuine disputes of material fact for the 10 11 jury. Defendant challenges the sufficiency of Plaintiff’s evidence by characterizing Plaintiff’s 12 asserted cause in fact as “speculation” and “conjecture” and by attempting to discredit Plaintiff’s 13 expert. (Dkt. No. 42 at 6, 7.) Defendant relies on cases in which plaintiffs failed to provide a 14 “satisfactory foundation” for a juror to determine the cause of the accident. (Id.); see Jankleson v. 15 Sisters of Charity House of Providence in Territory of Wash., 136 P.2d 720, (Wash. 1943); 16 Marshall v. Bally’s Pacwest, Inc. 972 P.2d 475 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). In Jankleson, a plaintiff 17 burned by a hospital heating pad supported her product defect claim with evidence that the burn 18 was not caused by hospital negligence and on expert testimony about a different type of heating 19 pad. 136 P.2d at 22-26. In Marshall the claimant alleged she fell off a treadmill and hit her head, 20 but had no memory of the accident and produced no evidence to explain what occurred besides 21 her own statement. 972 P.2d at 479. 22 Plaintiff provides significantly more of a foundation for its theory of causation than 23 offered in the above cases, relying on expert testimony based on thorough testing and 24 examination of the failed tank and building water system. Defendant’s attempt to discredit this 25 testimony by challenging expert credibility is not appropriate for summary judgment. (See Dkt. 26 No. 42.) Even when a non-movant’s evidence “is not highly convincing,” if it supports an ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 12 1 inference that movant’s negligence was more likely than not the but-for cause of the injury, 2 parties are “entitled to have the trier of fact . . . judge its credibility and persuasiveness.” Beigher 3 v. Kleppe, 633 F.2d 531, 533 (9th Cir. 1980). 4 Considering the evidence produced and all inferences therefrom in favor of the 5 nonmoving party, there is a material question of fact as to whether defects in the ST-5 tank 6 design caused the tank to rupture. 7 Legal Causation: Legal causation involves the public policy determination of whether the 8 law should impose liability in this type of situation. Kirkland, 805 F.Supp.2d at 1072. 9 Washington courts consider factors such as “logic, common sense, justice, policy, and 10 precedent.” Hartley, 698 P.2d at 82. Courts also look to the “existence of some direct contact or 11 special relationship between the defendant and the injured party,” and legislation protecting a 12 “particular . . . class of persons.” Id. at 86. By passing the WPLA, the Washington legislature 13 made a policy decision to hold product manufacturers strictly liable for products with 14 unreasonably safe designs and to protect consumers in their relationship with manufacturers. The 15 alleged defects in Defendant’s ST-5 tank are not “too remote [or] insubstantial” to impose 16 liability when they are the but-for cause of tank failure and resulting harm. Thus, if a jury finds 17 but-for causation here, there is sufficient evidence for legal causation to attach. 18 19 3. Superseding Causes Defendant challenges Plaintiff on the element of proximate cause by asserting both that 20 Plaintiff cannot show that the tank was properly installed and maintained, and that the tank, in 21 fact, was not properly installed or maintained. (Dkt. No. 31 at 13-14.) To the extent that 22 Defendant characterizes these alternative theories of causation as superseding causes, this is an 23 affirmative defense, on which Defendant will bear the burden of proof at trial. See Parkins v. 24 Van Doren Sales, Inc., 724 P.2d 389, 394-95 (Wash. Ct. App. 1986). Intervening negligenct acts 25 do not supersede the original actor’s negligence as a proximate cause if they are reasonably 26 foreseeable. Id. Here, Defendant has not carried its burden of production on this defense and it ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 13 1 seems entirely foreseeable that a plumber would add humid air or fail to properly balance the 2 tank upon installation or that an end user would not receive the instruction manual and not know 3 the tank requires annual inspection. Thus, the Court will not dismiss Plaintiff’s design defect 4 claim on this basis. 5 6 7 Defendant’s motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s design defect claim is therefore DENIED. a. Failure to Warn 8 Under the WPLA, a Plaintiff can establish that a product is “not reasonably safe” due to 9 deficiency of warning or instruction by showing that when it was manufactured, “the likelihood 10 that the product would cause the claimant’s harm or similar harms, and the seriousness of those 11 harms, rendered the [manufacturer’s] warnings or instructions inadequate and the manufacturer 12 could have provided the warnings or instructions which the claimant alleges would have been 13 adequate.” Wash. Rev. Code § 7.72.030(1)(b). Alternatively, a Plaintiff can show that inadequate 14 warning or instruction made a product “unsafe to an extent beyond that which would be 15 contemplated by the ordinary consumer.” Id. at § 7.72.030(3). Additionally, a plaintiff must 16 show that the defendant’s inadequate warnings proximately caused its injury. Id. at 17 § 7.72.030(1). To satisfy this element, a plaintiff must offer sufficient evidence to show that the 18 additional warning would have been heeded if given. See Ayers by and Through Ayers v. 19 Johnson & Johnson Baby Products Co., 818 P.2d 1337, 1340 (Wash. 1991). 20 Plaintiff argues that its loss “could have been prevented” if Defendant provided adequate 21 instructions or warnings to end users that: (1) the tank required annual maintenance and 22 inspection, (2) over or under pressurization of the tank at installation can lead to a decreased tank 23 lifespan, and (3) the tank should be inspected more frequently or replaced after five years of use. 24 (Dkt. No. 38 at 4, 5.) Defendant counters that the WPLA only requires adequate warnings be 25 provided to the product purchaser, not the end-user. (Dkt. 42 at 8, 9.) Furthermore, even if the 26 Court requires a manufacturer to provide adequate warning to the end-user, Defendant asserts it ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 14 1 2 has sufficiently done so in literature accompanying the product and on the tank’s label. (Id.) The manual provided with the tank at purchase warns “a professional plumber should 3 check the [tank] yearly and more frequently as the system ages,” and failure to properly follow 4 installation instructions “may result in excessive strain” or lead to tank failure. (Dkt. No. 32-1.) 5 The manual also indicates that it should be left with the customer. (Id.) The tank label itself 6 contains various warnings, including warnings that failure to follow installation instructions can 7 cause a tank rupture, the tank can corrode and weaken over time, the tank must be properly pre- 8 charged to system pressure, and the tank should not be located where leaking could cause 9 damage. (Dkt. No. 32-6.) The label does not instruct the end user to have the tank inspected. 10 11 (Dkt. No. 38 at 9.) The Court need not ultimately reach the question of who must be warned or how, because 12 Plaintiff’s inadequate warning claim fails on the element of proximate cause. See Celotex Corp., 13 477 U.S. at 324. A defendant moving for summary judgment can meet its initial burden by 14 showing that the plaintiff lacks evidence to support an essential element of its claim; the burden 15 then shifts to the plaintiff to present such evidence. Id. Here, Defendant points to expert 16 testimony and product literature to argue that Plaintiff cannot show a failure to warn proximately 17 caused Plaintiff’s injuries. (Dkt. No. 31 at 12–14.) Plaintiff responds that “failure to provide 18 adequate warnings or instruction was the direct and proximate cause of this loss,” but does not 19 offer any evidence to show that additional warnings or instruction would have been heeded if 20 provided. (Dkt. No. 38 at 9.) Without any offer of evidence, Plaintiff’s statement that it “intends 21 to prove that if given, proper instructions would have been followed” is not sufficient to survive 22 a motion for summary judgment. (Id.); see Celotex Corp., 477 US at 323-24 (at the summary 23 judgement stage, the opposing party cannot rest on its pleadings and an affirmative showing is 24 required). Thus, Plaintiff’s product liability claim cannot survive summary judgment based on a 25 failure to warn theory. 26 The Court therefore GRANTS Defendant’s motion for summary judgment on Plaintiff’s ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 15 1 failure to warn claim. 2 III. CONCLUSION 3 For the foregoing reasons, Defendant’s motion for summary judgement (Dkt. No. 31) is 4 DENIED in part and GRANTED in part. Plaintiff’s motion to strike (Dkt. No. 38) is DENIED; 5 DATED this 19th day of September, 2017. 8 A 9 John C. Coughenour UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT C16-0781-JCC PAGE - 16

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