Kennedy v. Guess, Inc.

• Decision Date: 21 April 2004
• Docket Number: No. 29S02-0211-CV-594.,29S02-0211-CV-594.
• Citation: 806 N.E.2d 776
• Parties: Richard KENNEDY and, Kaye Kennedy, Appellant (Plaintiffs below), v. GUESS, INC.; Callanen International, Inc.; Interasian Resources, Ltd. and Interasia Bag Manufacturers, Ltd., Appellee (Defendants below).
• Court: Indiana Supreme Court

806 N.E.2d 776

Richard KENNEDY and, Kaye Kennedy, Appellant (Plaintiffs below), v. GUESS, INC.; Callanen International, Inc.; Interasian Resources, Ltd. and Interasia Bag Manufacturers, Ltd., Appellee (Defendants below).

No. 29S02-0211-CV-594.

Supreme Court of Indiana.

April 21, 2004.

Frederick R. Hovde, Hovde Law Firm, Indianapolis, IN, Attorney for Appellant.

Jeffrey R. Mitchell, Yarling & Robinson, Indianapolis, IN, Attorney for Appellee.

Seth M. Lahn, Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington, IN, Additional Appearance on behalf of Appellee.

ON PETITION TO TRANSFER FROM THE INDIANA COURT OF APPEALS, NO. 29A02-0110-CV-674

SHEPARD, Chief Justice.

We consider here for the first time certain strict liability provisions in the Indiana Product Liability Act that render some distributors liable as though they had manufactured the product. The case arises from motions for summary judgment the trial court granted for two corporate defendants involved in distribution of an allegedly defective designer umbrella. We conclude the defendants did not establish that they were entitled to judgment.

On a second question of first impression, we hold that those who license their trademarks for use on products that cause injury may have negligence liability proportionate to their role in the product's design, manufacturing, and distribution.

Facts and Procedural History

Kaye Kennedy purchased a "Guess" watch at a Lazarus Department Store in Indianapolis on November 22, 1996. As a gift for purchasing the watch, she received a free umbrella also bearing the "Guess" logo. On May 22, 1998, Kaye's husband Richard took the umbrella to work, where a co-worker swung it from the handle. The umbrella's shaft separated from the handle and struck Richard in the nose and sinus, causing injury.

As amended, the Kennedys' complaint sought damages against Guess, Inc., Callanen International, Inc. (formerly known as Watches CGI, Inc.), Interasia Bag Manufacturers, Ltd., and Interasian Resources, Ltd. The complaint asserted both negligence and strict liability.

Interasia Bag, a Hong Kong corporation, manufactured the umbrella. Interasian Resources, located in New York, is a domestic affiliate of Interasia Bag. Callanen, a Connecticut corporation, is licensed by Guess to market products bearing the Guess logo, including the watch and umbrella at issue. Callanen and Guess filed cross-claims against Interasia Bag and Interasian Resources. The Kennedys attempted service of process on Interasia Bag, but were unsuccessful.

Callanen and Guess moved for summary judgment, which the trial court granted. The Court of Appeals reversed. Kennedy v. Guess, 765 N.E.2d 213 (Ind.Ct.App. 2002).

We granted transfer to address: (1) how the burden of establishing the absence of any genuine issue of material fact operates with respect to a statutory provision treating the "principal distributor or seller" as a manufacturer, and (2) whether § 400 of the Restatement (Second) of Torts imposes a duty on Callanen and Guess akin to that of a manufacturer.

Standard of Review. Summary judgment should be granted only if the evidence authorized by Indiana Trial Rule 56(C) shows that there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party deserves judgment as a matter of law. Ind. T.R. 56(C). We view the facts and reasonable inferences drawn from those facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. Wright v. Carter, 622 N.E.2d 170, 171 (Ind.1993).

On appeal from summary judgment, the reviewing court faces the same issues that were before the trial court and analyzes them the same way, although the trial court's decision is "clothed with a presumption of validity." Id. While the non-movant bears the burden of demonstrating that the grant of summary judgment was erroneous, we carefully assess the trial court's decision to ensure that the non-movant was not wrongly denied his or her day in court. Id.

I. Strict Liability Claim

Indiana's Product Liability Act (the "Act") governs all actions brought by a user or consumer against a manufacturer or seller for the physical harm caused by a product. Ind.Code § 34-20-2-1, et seq. (1999).¹ It provides in pertinent part that: a person who sells, leases, or otherwise puts into the stream of commerce any product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to any user or consumer or to the user's or consumer's property is subject to liability for physical harm caused by that product to the user or consumer if:

(1) that user or consumer is in the class of persons that the seller should reasonably foresee as being subject to the harm caused by the defective condition;

(2) the seller is engaged in the business of selling the product; and

(3) the product is expected to and does reach the user or consumer without substantial alteration in the condition in which the product is sold by the person sought to be held liable under this article.

Ind.Code § 34-20-2-1 (1999). Actions for strict liability in tort are restricted to manufacturers of defective products. Indeed, the statute states the restriction rather bluntly.

A product liability action based on the doctrine of strict liability in tort may not be commenced or maintained against a seller of a product that is alleged to contain or possess a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer unless the seller is a manufacturer of the product or of the part of the product alleged to be defective.

Ind.Code § 34-20-2-3 (1999). The Kennedys' strict liability claim against Callanen and Guess alleges the umbrella was unreasonably dangerous and defective because "the design, manufacture, and assembly" of the umbrella caused its shaft to separate from the handle during foreseeable use.

Callanen and Guess moved for summary judgment alleging that they were not "manufacturers" of the umbrellas and thus were entitled to summary judgment. To support their contention that they are not "manufacturers" of the umbrella or the principal distributor or seller, Callanen and Guess each submitted in affidavits from managerial employees to show that none of the factual predicates for the statutory exceptions under which a seller can be deemed a "manufacturer" were met.²

The affiants also stated that neither Guess nor Callanen has any ownership interest in Interasia Bag, the actual manufacturer, or its affiliate, Interasian Resources. They added that neither Guess nor Callanen is owned in whole or significant part by Interasia Bag or Interasian Resources.

This evidence was adequate to satisfy Guess and Callanen's burden of proving their contention that they are not "manufacturers" of the umbrella as defined by the Act,³ and would, if unrebutted, have warranted summary judgment under Indiana Code § 34-20-2-3.

In response to the motion of Callanen and Guess, the Kennedys replied that they were entitled to hold the movants in the lawsuit by virtue of a provision in the Act that imposes liability through treating certain parties as though they were manufacturers:

If a court is unable to hold jurisdiction over a particular manufacturer of a product or a part of a product alleged to be defective, then that manufacturer's principal distributor or seller over whom a court may hold jurisdiction shall be considered, for the purposes of this chapter, the manufacturer of the product.

Ind.Code § 34-20-2-4 (1999) (we'll call it the "domestic distributor" exception.)

Thus, the Act may extend to Guess and Callanen only if two conditions are met: (1) Callanen and Guess must be Interasia Bag's principal distributor or seller over whom the court can hold jurisdiction; and (2) the court must be unable to hold jurisdiction over Interasia Bag, the actual manufacturer. The Kennedys supplied certain evidence in support of their contention that Guess and Callanen fit within this section.

A. Jurisdiction over Interasia Bag.

The Kennedys attempted service on the manufacturer of the umbrella, Interasia Bag, at an address in Hong Kong, but were unsuccessful. They received an "affirmation of non-service" indicating that there was no corporation named Interasia Bag Manufacturers Ltd. at the address provided by the Kennedys and therefore service was not effected. Designating this evidence, the Kennedys claimed that Interasia Bag is "no longer in business and is not subject to the jurisdiction of this court leaving Guess and Callanen as principal distributor or seller." (Appellant's App. at 66.)

The Kennedys also point to the affidavits designated by Callanen and Guess to support that there is no basis for an Indiana court to exercise personal jurisdiction over Interasia Bag. They say there is no evidence that Interasia Bag had any contacts with Indiana or had any knowledge that its umbrellas were to be sold in Indiana. They state that Callanen ordered the umbrellas from its Connecticut office through Interasia Bag's affiliate Interasian Resources (located in New York) and made payment for the umbrellas from its Connecticut office. The umbrellas themselves were shipped from Hong Kong to Callanen's Connecticut office.

Based on the above, the Kennedys argue that the umbrellas randomly found their way into Indiana through the marketing promotions of Callanen and Guess and such is not a sufficient basis for exercising jurisdiction under Indiana Trial Rule 4.4(A). (Appellant's App. at 69, citing North Texas Steel v. Donnelley & Sons, 679 N.E.2d 513 (Ind.Ct.App.1997) (mere knowledge that a product is to be sold and used in a state held insufficient to subject manufacturer to jurisdiction).)

While this evidence is not especially impressive, it was potent enough to demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact on the question whether Callanen and Guess are manufacturers under the domestic distributor exception of Section 4. Callanen and Guess are manufacturers under the domestic distributor exception of Section 4. Summary judgment for Callanen and Guess on this point was...