Mercer v. Pittway Corp.

How courts have described this case

Verbatim parenthetical descriptions written by other courts when citing this decision. Ranked by citation-network relevance.

• explaining that, under Iowa law, “punitive damages are appropriate only when actual or legal malice is shown”
• finding reversible error in the admission of 116 consumer complaints where “it would be necessary for the court to examine each prior incident to determine if it truly is substantially similar to the incident in the subject case”
• “We review a district court’s decision concerning the admission of relevant evidence for an abuse of discretion.”
• “[T]he inquiry is whether a reasonable manufacturer knew or should have known of the danger, in light of the generally recognized and prevailing best scientific knowledge, yet failed to provide adequate warning to users or customers.”
• “ ‘Although a presumption of prejudice arises when the district court has received irrelevant evidence over a proper objection, the presumption is not sufficient if the record shows a lack of prejudice.’” (quoting McClure v. Walgreen Co., 613 N.W.2d 225, 235 (Iowa 2000))
• “[T]o prove a ‘defective condition unreasonably dangerous,’ the plaintiff must show that the defect in the product was not one contemplated by the consumer, which would be unreasonably dangerous to the plaintiff in the normal and intended use of the product.”

Source: CourtListener parenthetical corpus (CC0).