Business Law

5 Failure to Warn The Emerson Electric Co. manufac-tures and sells a product called the Weed Eater XR-90. The Weed Eater is a multipurpose weed-trimming and brush-cut-ting device. It consists of a handheld gasoline-powered engine connected to a long drive shaft, at the end of which can be attached various tools for cutting weeds and brush. One such attachment is a 10-inch circular saw blade capable of cutting through growth up to 2 inches in diameter. When this saw blade is attached to the Weed Eater, approximately 270 degrees of blade edge are exposed when in use. The owners manual contained the following warning: Keep children away. All people and pets should be kept at a safe distance from the work area, at least 30 feet, especially when using the blade. Donald Pearce, a 13-year-old boy, was helping his uncle clear an over-grown yard. The uncle was operating a Weed Eater XR-90 with the circular saw blade attachment. When Pearce stooped to pick up something off the ground about 6 to 10 feet behind and slightly to the left of where his uncle was operating the Weed Eater, the saw blade on the Weed Eater struck some-thing near the ground. The Weed Eater kicked back to the left and cut off Pearces right arm to the elbow. Pearce, through his mother, Charlotte Karns, sued Emerson to recover dam-ages under strict liability.

Is Emerson liable?