Matthews v. Lawnlite Co.
Supreme Court of Florida
88 So. 2d 299 (1956)
Gerald Matthews (plaintiff), testing a rocking chair made by Lawnlite Company (defendant) in a furniture store, wrapped his fingers around the front edge of the right armrest while rocking, and his middle finger was cut off by moving parts hidden beneath the armrest that were necessary for the chair's rocking mechanism, with no warning provided that such parts were located there. Matthews brought a design-defect suit, the trial court granted Lawnlite's motion to dismiss, and Matthews appealed.
Whether a manufacturer of a product with a design that makes the product dangerous for its intended uses is subject to liability to individuals whom the manufacturer should expect to use the product and whose bodily harm results from a failure to exercise reasonable care in adopting a safe design.