Sierocinski v. EI Du Pont De Nemours & Co.

Decision Date24 April 1939
Docket NumberNo. 6998.,6998.
Citation103 F.2d 843
PartiesSIEROCINSKI v. E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit

Robert C. Fable, Jr., and Raymond A. White, Jr., both of Philadelphia, Pa., for appellant.

C. Brewster Rhoads, Laurence H. Eldredge, Samuel Fessenden, and Montgomery & McCracken, all of Philadelphia, Pa., and Abel Klaw, of Wilmington, Del., (Peter B. Collins, of Wilmington, Del., of counsel), for appellee.

Before MARIS, BIDDLE, and BUFFINGTON, Circuit Judges.

BIDDLE, Circuit Judge.

The plaintiff's "statement of claim" (complaint), amended under an order of court granting defendant's motion for a more definite statement under Rule 12(e), Rules of Civil Procedure for District Courts, 28 U.S.C.A. following section 723c, alleged that he was injured by the premature explosion of a dynamite cap. Specifically the plaintiff claimed as negligent acts the manufacturing and distributing of the cap "in such a fashion that it was unable to withstand the crimping which defendant knew it would be subjected to"; and distributing a cap so constructed that it would explode upon being crimped, without warning, the defendant knowing it would be crimped. Judge Kalodner granted the defendant's motion to strike this amended statement, as failing to set forth any specific act of negligence, and dismissed the action. From his order the plaintiff appealed to this court.

The plaintiff, as alleged, was injured while "crimping" a dynamite cap manufactured by the defendant and supplied to him by his employer. "Crimping" is a necessary and anticipated process in using the cap.

Appellee, admitting that a manufacturer is liable for injuries to a person from the use of a defectively manufactured article, argues that it is not put on notice by the complaint as to whether it must meet a claim of warranty, of misrepresentation, of the use of improper ingredients, or of faulty inspection.

But there is a specific averment of negligent manufacture and distribution of the cap in such a fashion as to make it explode when crimped. A plaintiff need not plead evidence. He "sets forth a claim for relief" when he makes "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief (Rule 8(a) (2)." The same rule, (e) (1), requires that "each averment of a pleading shall be simple, concise, and direct. No technical forms of pleading or motions are required"; and (f) "all pleadings shall be so construed as to do substantial justice"....

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18 cases
  • Turkish State Railways Administration v. Vulcan Iron Works
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Middle District of Pennsylvania
    • July 1, 1957
    ...complaint a short and plain statement of a claim showing that plaintiff is entitled to relief, Rule 8(a); Sierocinski v. E. I. Dupont De Nemours & Co., 3 Cir., 1939, 103 F.2d 843; Gold Seal Co. v. Weeks, 1954, 93 U.S.App.D.C. 249, 209 F.2d 802, at page 808; cf. Dioguardi v. Durning, 2 Cir.,......
  • Sierocinski v. EI Du Pont De Nemours & Co.
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (3rd Circuit)
    • April 1, 1941
    ...Circuit. March 5, 1941. As Amended on Denial of Rehearing April 1, 1941. COPYRIGHT MATERIAL OMITTED See, also, D.C., 25 F.Supp. 706; 3 Cir., 103 F.2d 843. C. Brewster Rhoads, of Philadelphia, Pa. (Montgomery & McCracken, of Philadelphia, Pa., of counsel, Abel Klaw and Peter B. Collins, both......
  • LOUISIANA FARMERS'P. UNION v. Great Atlantic & Pac. T. Co.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Arkansas
    • February 9, 1940
    ...evidence are not required to be stated in a bill of particulars. Garfield v. Paris, 96 U.S. 557, 24 L.Ed. 821; Sierocinski v. E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co., 3 Cir., 103 F.2d 843; Universal Oil Products Co. v. Skelly Oil Co., D.C., 12 F.2d 271; Ballard Oil Terminal Corp. v. Mexican Petroleu......
  • Sunset Financial Resource v. Redevelopment Group V
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of New Jersey
    • February 24, 2006
    ...(3d Cir.2001). In the context of a negligence claim, a bare allegation of negligence is sufficient. See Sierocinski v. E.I. du Pont De Nemours & Co., 103 F.2d 843, 843-44 (3d Cir.1939)(a general allegation of negligence such as "defendant negligently drove a motor vehicle against plaintiff ......
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