Hyjek v. Anthony Industries
Washington Supreme Court
944 P.2d 1036 (1997)
- Written by Solveig Singleton, JD
Facts
Gary Hyjek (plaintiff) was injured while using a snowboard manufactured by a subsidiary of Anthony Industries (Anthony) (defendant). The year after Hyjek bought his snowboard, Anthony had begun to design a new binding system for the snowboards. Hyjek sued Anthony on a theory of strict liability for defective design, claiming that the design of the binding system on his snowboard was defective at the time of his injury. Hyjek argued that Anthony’s efforts to design a new binding system showed that a reasonable alternative design existed. Washington state product-liability statutes stated that in design-defect suits, the defect had to be shown to have existed at the time of manufacture. The trial court excluded evidence of the new binding system, holding that a rule of evidence barring the use of subsequent remedial measures to establish negligence or culpable conduct applied in strict-liability cases. Hyjek appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Madsen, J.)
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