Venue: |
Ct. App. 4th Cir.
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Facts: |
Hood takes off the blade guard from his miter saw, directly disobeying
warnings on the saw and in the manual. He is injured: he didn't
expect the blade to fly out at him. |
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Posture: |
Summary judgment for defendants at trial. |
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Issue: |
Were the warnings adequate? |
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Holding: |
Yes. Affirmed. |
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Rule: |
A more detailed warning is only warranted if its benefits would outweigh
the costs. |
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Reasoning: |
There were lots of warnings on this thing. We don't need encyclopedic
warnings, just ones that are reasonable under the circumstances.
There are many costs to warnings: proliferation reduces the
chance that they can all be read and heeded, they might drive
off customers, etc. |
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Dicta: |
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