Anderson v. Dreis & Krump Manufacturing Corp.
Court of Appeals of Washington
739 P.2d 1177 (1987)
Dreis's (defendant) press had a two-handed activation button system providing an inherent safety feature, but the purchaser Comet modified it to work with one button and one hand, removing that safety feature; Anderson (plaintiff), a Comet employee, was injured reaching into the press's point of operation while using the modified system, and the trial court granted Dreis summary judgment, finding Comet's modification a superseding cause.
Whether, for purposes of products liability, if the harm suffered by the plaintiff falls within the general threat of harm reasonably foreseeable to the defendant, the defendant may be subject to liability, even if the manner in which the harm comes about is not reasonably foreseeable.