Pedicone, III Thompson/Center Arms Company, LLC ( 2022 )

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
JOSEPH J. PEDICONE, III and )
HILMA L. PEDICONE, H/W, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) C.A. No. N17C-11-264 WCC
)
THOMPSON/CENTER ARMS )
COMPANY, LLC F/K/A )
THOMPSON/CENTER ARMS )
COMPANY, INC., and )
SMITH & WESSON CORP., )
Defendants.
Submitted: July 7, 2022
Decided: November 4, 2022
Plaintiffs’ Motion for a New Trial – DENIED
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Joseph J. Rhoades, Esquire and Stephen T. Morrow, Esquire, Rhoades & Morrow
LLC, 1225 North King Street, Suite 1200, Wilmington, Delaware 19801. Michael
A. Trunk, Esquire, and Thomas E. Bosworth, Esquire, KLINE & SPECTOR, P.C.,
1525 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Attorneys for Plaintiffs.
Timothy Jay Houseal, Esquire and Jennifer M. Kinkus, Esquire, YOUNG
CONAWAY STARGATT & TAYLOR, LLP, 1000 North King Street, Wilmington,
DE 19801. Anthony M. Pisciotti, Esquire and Danny C. Lallis, Esquire, PISCIOTTI
LALLIS ERDREICH, 30 Columbia Turnpike, Suite 205, Florham Park, New Jersey
07932. Attorneys for Defendants.
CARPENTER, J.
Before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion for a New Trial. For the reasons set
forth in this Opinion, Plaintiffs’ Motion is DENIED.
I. Factual & Procedural Background
On or about January 9, 2016, Mr. Pedicone was injured while operating his
Thompson/Center Contender pistol (“Contender”). The pistol discharged into his
leg, resulting in serious injury and amputation.1 On November 29, 2017, Mr. and
Mrs. Pedicone, (“Plaintiffs”) filed suit against Thompson/Center Arms Co. and
Smith and Wesson Co. (“Defendants”) alleging that Defendants negligently
designed the Contender.2 The Court held a jury trial from March 21, 2022, until
March 29, 2022.3 The jury returned a verdict on March 30, 2022, finding that the
Defendants were not negligent with respect to the design of the Contender.4 On
April 13, 2022, Plaintiffs submitted a Rule 59 Motion for a New Trial.5
II. Standard of Review
Pursuant to Delaware Superior Court Civil Rule 59, a new trial may be granted
for all, or part of the issues decided at trial.6 In considering a motion for a new trial,
the Court should give the jury’s verdict “enormous deference,”7 and “should not set
1
Compl. ¶¶ 18, 23.
2
Id. ¶ 26.
3
Trial Worksheet, D.I. 283, at 1 (Mar. 30, 2022).
4
Verdict Sheet, D.I. 282, at 1 (Mar. 30, 2022).
5
Pls.’ Mot. for a New Trial, D.I. 285 (April 13, 2022). (“Pls.’ Mot.”)
6
Del. Super. Ct. R. 59.
7
Cuonzo v. Shore, 958 A.2d 840, 844 (Del. 2008).
1
aside a verdict … unless, on review of all the evidence, [it] preponderates so heavily
against the jury verdict that a reasonable jury could not have reached the result.”8
A verdict should not be disrupted unless it is “manifestly and palpably against
the weight of the evidence,”9 the jury disregarded rules of applicable law, or the
verdict was “tainted by legal error during trial.”10
III. Discussion
In support of their argument for a new trial, the Plaintiffs claim that the Court:
(1) excluded evidence of an alternative feasible design;11 (2) improperly questioned
an expert witness;12 (3) improperly instructed the jury;13 and (4) failed to discharge
Juror No. 9, who was represented by the Defendants’ law firm in a different matter.14
Before addressing the arguments made by Plaintiffs, a couple of general comments
are in order. This was a terrible and tragic accident that caused significant injury to
Mr. Pedicone. While it is clear that Mr. Pedicone is not seeking sympathy, the Court
is sure it was difficult for everyone in the courtroom to totally appreciate the effect
this incident has had on his life. Perhaps even more amazing is how Mr. Pedicone
8
Storey v. Camper, 401 A.2d 458, 465 (Del. 1979); see also Town of Cheswold v. Vann, 9 A.3d
467, 472 (Del. 2010).
9
McCloskey v. McKelvey, 174 A.2d 691, 693 (Del. Super. 1961).
10
In re Asbestos Litig. 112010JR Trial Grp., 2011 WL 684164, at *4 (Del. Super. Feb. 2, 2011).
11
Pls.’ Mot. ¶ 5.
12
Id. ¶ 6.
13
Id. ¶ 7.
14
Id. ¶ 8.
2
has not let this incident hamper his joy for living, including continuing to hunt, a
sport he clearly loves. The Court applauds his determination and tenacity.
That said, this is a case that the Court is confident all counsel knew would be
difficult to prove. Even in the best of circumstances it would be difficult for a jury
to discount the clear negligence of Mr. Pedicone, even if they contributed some
liability to the gun manufacturer. The facts of this case simply would make any
other conclusion difficult. The Court appreciates that Mr. Pedicone has not obtained
the results desired, but the results should not have been a surprise or unexpected.
The Court will now consider the arguments asserted in Plaintiffs’ Motion for a New
Trial.
A. Alternative Feasible Design
First, Plaintiffs contend the Court improperly excluded evidence of the
Thompson/Center G2 firearm (G2) which was manufactured by Defendants nearly
35 years after the Contender weapon which is the subject of this litigation. Plaintiffs
argue they should have been allowed to introduce evidence regarding the operation
of the G2 firearm as it would have demonstrated that an alternative design was
available, and that design would have made the Contender weapon safer.15 In the
Court’s pretrial ruling, it stated:
“The fact that a subsequently produced weapon with more modern and
up-to-date features has been manufactured by Defendants does not
15
Pls.’ Mot. ¶ 5.
3
equate to the initial weapon being defectively designed. Further, the
marketing of the new weapon as the next generation of the Contender
does not provide a basis for its introduction. Therefore, the Court rules
that the introduction of the weapon simply to establish Defendants have
corrected concerns of the original Contender is not admissible. It is
possible that the fact that a new firearm similar to the Contender has
been produced may be utilized on cross-examination to attack
knowledge or credibility, but those decisions will have to wait for
trial.”16
The Court finds this ruling to be correct. First, despite Plaintiffs’ counsels’
assertions otherwise, Dr. Knox was given significant latitude over days to testify
about the operation of the Contender weapon, what would have caused the weapon
to unintentionally discharge and why it occurred in this case. Dr. Knox was never
prevented from offering testimony about designs that were available and utilized
when Mr. Pedicone’s gun was manufactured in the 1970s. The Court’s ruling simply
prevented Plaintiffs from asserting that because Defendants later manufactured a
weapon that corrected the concerns raised by Dr. Knox, he should have been allowed
to testify about these advances which he was asserting could have been considered
decades before. Despite the obvious advancements in technology and the knowledge
gained from decades of manufacturing weapons, a weapon manufactured in the 70s
is not defectively designed because decades later a new design is implemented in a
more modern firearm. The Court is sure that significant changes have occurred in
manufacturing weapons over the two hundred years of our country’s history which
16
Letter Op. from Carpenter, J., D.I. 261, at 10 (Mar. 7, 2022).
4
would have made an older weapon safer. That alone, however, does not make the
older weapon defective, and allowing the testimony suggested by Plaintiffs would
have confused the jury and allowed an unfounded assertion to be introduced into the
trial issues. The Court finds the testimony as suggested by Plaintiffs irrelevant and
it would have been inappropriate to allow it into evidence.
It is also clear to the Court that if properly handled, the Contender firearm
would have been safe to use. Unfortunately, Mr. Pedicone failed to exercise
reasonable care in the handling of this older firearm which led to this accident. This
is particularly true in this case as the weapon was purchased at a gun show from a
friend, the gun had been altered by its previous owners and Mr. Pedicone, and those
modifications to the weapon made it more difficult and less safe to use. Here the
jury was given significant evidence by both parties’ experts concerning the
manufacturing of this weapon. The jury’s decision to find the weapon was not
defectively manufactured is clearly supported by the evidence. As such, the Motion
for New Trial on this ground is denied.
B. Court’s Questions
Next, Plaintiffs claim the Court improperly questioned Dr. Michael Knox
during Plaintiffs’ direct examination.17 The Court’s questioning occurred while
Plaintiffs’ counsel was examining Dr. Knox on the procedural steps necessary to
17
Pls.’ Mot. ¶ 6.
5
disengage the weapon once it was set to fire.18 The Court asked Dr. Knox whether
the engagement of the safety was the first step indicated in the weapon’s manual.
Plaintiffs argue that the Court’s mid-examination questions impaired Dr. Knox’s
credibility and derailed Plaintiffs’ line of questioning.19
In response, Defendants assert that the Court’s comments were proper and
were simply clarifying questions – a practice employed by the Court for witnesses
of both parties.20 Further, Defendants argue that the Court maintained neutrality
when asking clarifying questions and kept questioning to a minimum throughout the
trial.21 Defendants argue that Plaintiffs failed to object to the Court’s questioning
and that there is no evidence that the Court’s question regarding the manual safety
demonstrated a lack of impartiality or prejudice.22
It is well settled under Delaware law that a trial judge is permitted to interrupt
a line of questioning on direct or cross examination of a witness to ask clarification
questions.23 When doing so, a trial judge must exercise self-restraint and “preserve
an atmosphere of impartiality when questioning witnesses.”24
18
Id.
19
Pls.’ Mot. ¶ 6.
20
Defs.’ Mot. at 5, 6.
21
Id. at 7.
22
Id. at 8–9.
23
Price v. Blood Bank of Delaware, Inc., 790 A.2d 1203, 1212 (Del. 2002).
24
Lagola v. Thomas, 867 A.2d 961, 898 (Del. 2005).
6
Here, the Plaintiffs’ expert, Dr. Knox, was testifying what was set forth in the
weapon’s manual as to the proper operating steps and what happens when the user
decides not to fire the Contender after the hammer block is engaged.25
COUNSEL: Doctor, the entire process we just described there, what is
happening with the gun during that process when you release the --
well, as it starts out. If you decide not to fire after the hammer has been
cocked, then it takes you through this step, what is the process that’s
actually happening with this gun that’s being described?
THE WITNESS: So what happens is that we have a hammer cock and
you decide to release the hammer because you are not going to fire it,
so you would hold the hammer with your thumb, pull the trigger to
release the hammer from the sear. And then what this is describing is
let the hammer down slowly. What has happened, when you do that, is
once you pull the trigger to release the hammer, you also disengage the
hammer block, so the hammer block is no longer in place, so if you
were to let the hammer fall from that position with the -- without the
safety pin engaged, then the hammer would strike the firing pins.26
Then, the Court briefly asked the witness about the gun’s manual safety, by
questioning:
THE COURT: Talking about the amount of initial construction 27 here,
which is put the gun on -- in a safe position; right? So you kind of
jumped to the second one; right?
THE WITNESS: I think -- yes. What this describes, I’m describing
what happens in the gun in terms of the steps.
THE COURT: Right. But both the gun that Mr. Pedicone owns and this
manual reflect there’s a safety; right?
25
Trial Tr. Mar. 22, 2022, at 54–58.
26
Id. at 57–58.
27
The Court believes that the reporter misheard the Court’s question and the word “construction”
should be “instruction”.
7
THE WITNESS: Yes.
THE COURT: Regardless of whether it’s an S or some other, as you
described there is a safety on it. That indicates first you put that on;
right?
THE WITNESS: That’s what is indicated. Yes.
THE COURT: Okay.28
The instruction manual clearly states that the first step the gun operator should
take after deciding not to fire the gun after it had been cocked, is to put the manual
safety on. After being questioned for several minutes about the instructions in the
manual, Dr. Knox failed to include this first step in the disengagement steps he was
testifying about. The Court’s questions were only intended to clarify that the
engagement of the safety was the initial act indicated in the manual and was
consistent with Dr. Knox’s expertise on the operation of the firearm. Since the Court
had not heard Dr. Knox include this step in his response to counsel’s question, it was
a proper inquiry to clarify the issue and avoid confusion.
The Court’s questions were permissible clarifications regarding the
significant complexities in the operation of this weapon and the steps taken to use
the firearm according to its manual. The Court’s questions were asked in a neutral
and impartial manner, free from any suggestion that the Court favored one side over
28
Id. at 58.
8
another. Accordingly, the Court’s brief questions to Plaintiffs’ expert witness were
proper and free from any influential suggestions.
C. Jury Instructions
Third, Plaintiffs assert the Court “adopted the Defendants’ factual narrative
when instructing the jury” by emphasizing the contentions of the Defendants relating
to the claim that Mr. Pedicone was negligent.29 Plaintiffs contend that the emphasis
on Mr. Pedicone’s contributory negligence in the jury instructions improperly misled
the jury and bolstered the Defendants’ theories.30
Defendants on the other hand, assert the jury instructions given by the Court
were appropriate, fair, and impartial.31 Defendants contend that the jury instructions
combined both the Plaintiffs’ and Defendants’ proposed instructions, including
Plaintiffs’ requested instructions about reckless conduct.32 Defendants explain,
however, the jury found that the firearm was not negligently designed.33 Therefore,
the contentions of the Defendants regarding the conduct of Mr. Pedicone were never
considered by the jury as the issue of comparative negligence was rendered moot by
29
Pls.’ Mot. at ¶ 7.
30
Id.
31
Defs.’ Mot. at 9–10.
32
Id. at 11.
33
Verdict Sheet, D.I. 282, 1 (Mar. 30, 2022).
9
their decision.34 As such, Defendants maintain that the jury instructions were not
prejudicial and did not bolster the defense’s argument.35
In reviewing a motion for new trial based on a jury instruction, the Court must
determine whether “the alleged deficiency in the jury instructions undermined the
jury’s ability to intelligently perform its duty in returning a verdict.”36 “Generally,
jury instructions must give a correct statement of the substance of the law and ‘must
be reasonably informative and not misleading.’”37 A jury instruction “need not be
perfect, however, and a party does not have a right to a particular instruction in a
particular form.”38 Jury instructions must be “reasonably informative and not
misleading, judged by common practices and standards of verbal communication.”39
Here, the Court crafted the jury instructions with the considerations of those
submitted by Counsel and the standard pattern instructions.40 The law contained
therein was correct and applicable to the case, and when considered as a whole, allay
alleged misleading of the jury.41
34
Defs.’ Mot. at 11–12.
35
Id. at 11.
36
Lisowski v. Bayhealth Medical Center, Inc., 2016 WL 6995365, at *2 (Del. Super. Nov. 30,
2016).
37
Harris v. Cochran Oil Co., 2011 WL 3074419, at *3 (Del. July 26, 2011).
38
Id.39
Lisowski, 2016 WL 6995365, at *2 (quoting Lowther v. State, 104 A.3d 840, 847 (Del. 2014)).
40
Defs.’ Proposed Jury Instructions, D.I. 268 (Mar. 18, 2022); Pls.’ Proposed Jury Instructions,
D.I. 277 (Mar. 24, 2022); Jury Instructions, D.I. 281 (Mar. 30, 2022).
41
Jury Instructions, D.I. 281 (Mar. 30, 2022).
10
In the jury instruction requests made by both parties, the Court was provided
with the contentions each party had regarding the liability of the other party.
Plaintiffs’ contentions were set forth in the proposed negligent design instruction,42
and Defendants’ list was in a separate instruction entitled “Defendant’s
Contentions.”43 Here, the Court gave the negligent design instruction proposed by
the Plaintiffs and simply incorporated Defendants’ contentions into the comparative
negligence instruction.44 This was a logical and common-sense place to put the
“contentions” as it reflects it was the Defendants’ burden to establish if the jury
reached the issue of comparative negligence. The Court could have listed the
Defendants’ contentions in a separate instruction but connecting them to the burden
of proof required of the Defendants provided better guidance to the jury and from
the Court’s view, a more favorable instruction to Plaintiffs. The Court also notes
that the primary dispute regarding comparative negligence was not regarding
Defendants’ contentions but what would occur if the jury found Defendants’ conduct
was reckless. Plaintiffs argued that such a finding would moot the issue of
comparative negligence altogether. Where in contrast, Defendants believed it would
simply remove the 50% barrier to recovery. This appeared to be an issue not
previously addressed by the Court and was an area of significant contention between
42
Pl.’s Proposed Jury Instructions, D.I. 277, at 13 (Mar. 24, 2022).
43
Defs.’ Proposed Jury Instructions, D.I. 268, at 5-6 (Mar. 18, 2022).
44
Jury Instructions, D.I. 281, at 10 (Mar. 30, 2022).
11
the parties and was the primary focus of the Court. The list of contentions issue was
really one of form over substance.
The Court’s presentation of the issues for the jury to decide through its jury
instructions was fair, balanced and consistent with the requests made by the parties.
Unfortunately for the Plaintiffs, they failed to establish their case, so the jury was
never required to even consider Plaintiffs’ clear negligence in this matter. A party
is not prejudiced by an instruction that becomes immaterial based on the findings in
the case. Plaintiffs’ contentions here are simply unsupported.
D. Potential Juror Conflict
Lastly, Plaintiffs argue the Court failed to discharge Juror No. 9 who was
represented by Defendants’ local counsel, Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor
(“YCST”) in another matter. Plaintiffs claim that, due to the previous representation,
Juror No.9 was unable to render impartial jury service.45 Defendants respond that
there was no evidence that Juror No. 9 should have been precluded for cause because
he was unable to render impartial jury service.46
Juror No. 9 was represented by an attorney from YCST in a worker’s
compensation action stemming from an injury suffered approximately four to five
years ago.47 During voir dire, Juror No. 9 explained that the lawsuit filed on his
45
Pls.’ Mot. at ¶ 8.
46
Def.’s Mot. at 13.
47
Defs.’ Mot. Ex. K. Jury Selection Transcript. Mar. 17, 2022, at 145-47.
12
behalf had settled.48 The Court then questioned whether Juror No. 9’s legal
representation by YCST had caused him any concern, whether he would tend to give
greater weight and credibility to YCST attorneys, and whether he was familiar with
the YCST attorneys in this case.49 Juror No. 9 replied “no” to all of the questions
posed and had no other reason for coming forward during voir dire.50 When asked
by the Court if either Plaintiffs’ or Defendants’ counsel had any concerns, both sides
replied in the negative.51 Based on the representations by Juror No. 9 and by
Counsel, the Court found that Juror No. 9 could serve.52
There is nothing in the record to indicate any concern about the impartiality
of Juror No. 9. His representation by YCST was in a matter which occurred several
years ago, was unrelated to the matter before the Court, and involved an attorney
who was not involved in the current case. Moreover, the Court highlights that the
Plaintiffs did not raise any concerns during voir dire when asked by the Court.
Accordingly, there is no legally cognizable reason to support the proposition that
Juror No. 9 should have been precluded. The Court is satisfied that Juror No. 9 was
fair and listened to all the evidence presented.
48
Id.49
Id. at 146–7.
50
Id. at 147.
51
Id.
52
Id.
13
IV. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiffs’ Motion for a New Trial is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ William C. Carpenter, Jr
Judge William C. Carpenter, Jr.
14