Knaysi v. A.H. Robins Co.
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
679 F.2d 1366 (1982)
Anita Knaysi (plaintiff) had a Dalkon Shield IUD, made by A.H. Robins Co. (defendant), inserted by her gynecologist. She became pregnant despite the device and suffered a spontaneous septic abortion of twin fetuses. Knaysi claimed Robins knew the device caused such abortions, concealed that knowledge, and advertised it as safe. She sued for negligence, breach of warranty, fraud, and related claims after the statute of limitations had run, arguing Robins's fraudulent concealment of its wrongdoing should toll the deadline. The trial court granted Robins summary judgment on statute-of-limitations grounds, and Knaysi appealed.
Whether equitable estoppel allows a claim otherwise barred by the statute of limitations when the defendant's representations or conduct induced the plaintiff to delay suit on a known claim, or fraudulently concealed a claim unknown to the plaintiff.