Hood v. Ryobi America Corp.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
181 F.3d 608 (4th. 1999)
Despite at least seven clear manual warnings not to remove a Ryobi (defendant) saw's blade guards, Hood (plaintiff) removed them for home carpentry use; the blade later detached and struck him, causing him to lose part of his thumb and lacerate his leg. Hood sued for failure to warn, arguing Ryobi's warnings of "severe injury" and "possible serious personal injury" didn't specifically explain that the blade itself could detach, even though Ryobi knew of prior similar incidents; the trial court granted Ryobi summary judgment.
Whether a manufacturer is liable for failing to warn about dangers from product misuse if its warning does not itemize every specific possible consequence of that misuse in detail.