Reed v. Carlyle & Martin, Inc.
Supreme Court of Virginia
202 S.E.2d 874 (1974)
Grayson Reed (plaintiff), a lifelong farmer familiar with the livestock feed wagon's operation, chose to unload feed directly onto the wagon's exposed, still-operating metal beaters rather than using a pitchfork to unload onto the ground as his colleague did, and slipped and fell into the beaters, suffering serious injury. Reed sued the wagon's seller, manufacturer, and repairer (defendants) for products liability; the defendants moved for summary judgment on contributory negligence grounds, the trial court granted the motion, and Reed appealed.
Whether a defendant in a products-liability suit can be shielded from liability if the plaintiff is contributorily negligent by failing to exercise reasonable care for his own safety.