Shaffer v. Victoria Station, Inc. , 18 Wash. App. 816 ( 1977 )

Swanson, J.

Plaintiff appeals a judgment of dismissal, alleging error in the conclusion that no cause of action lies in strict liability or breach of implied warranty of fitness for personal injury suffered by a restaurant patron after a wine glass shattered in his hand. We affirm.

On March 27, 1974, Daniel R. Shaffer, appellant herein, ordered a class of rosé wine at the "Victoria Station Restaurant," operated by Victoria Station, Inc., respondent. In the course of taking his first or second sip, the wine glass broke in Mr. Shaffer's hand, resulting in alleged permanent injury.

Suit was commenced in November 1974 on theories of negligence and strict liability. Named as defendants were the operator of the restaurant and the then unidentified manufacturer of the glass (who was never served).

While presenting a pretrial motion in limine, plaintiff introduced a breach of implied warranty of fitness argument. The court ruled, however, that the case sounded in negligence alone. Nevertheless, plaintiff decided that pursuing a negligence theory of liability would be futile and struck the claim from his complaint. He then requested the court to rule on his alternative allegations and the facts as stated and permit the case to proceed on strict liability and implied warranties theories. Defendant then moved for dismissal of plaintiff's complaint as amended. The court granted the dismissal, reiterating its conclusion that the facts as presented could not sustain a verdict grounded on breach of implied warranty for fitness or strict tort liability.¹ This appeal followed.

On the basis of the facts submitted, three questions confront the court: (1) May a cause of action lie on a theory of strict liability? (2) Was a claim of breach of implied warranty adequately pleaded? (3) If so, may a cause of action lie based on a breach of implied warranty of fitness? In considering these questions the factual allegations of plaintiff must be accepted as true and the trial court will be affirmed only if it is clear from the pleadings that plaintiff could prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief. Halvorson v. Birchfield Boiler, Inc., 76 Wn.2d 759, 458 P.2d 897 (1969); Hofto v. Blumer, 74 Wn.2d 321, 444 P.2d 657 (1968).

The Question of Strict Liability

Our Supreme Court first recognized the concept of strict liability in Ulmer v. Ford Motor Co., 75 Wn.2d 522, 452 P.2d 729 (1969), adopting the rationale of Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A (1965). That section provides in pertinent part:

§ 402A. Special Liability of Seller of Product for Physical Harm to User or Consumer

(1) One who sells any product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer or to his property is subject to liability for physical harm thereby caused to the ultimate user or consumer, or to his property, if

(a) the seller is engaged in the business of selling such a product, and

(b) it is expected to and does reach the user or consumer without substantial change in the condition in which it is sold.

The court recently expanded applicability of the concept from the manufacturer of a defective product to anyone within the product's chain of distribution. Seattle-First Nat'l Bank v. Tabert, 86 Wn.2d 145, 542 P.2d 774 (1975).

Appellant argues that strict liability applies here, emphasizing two points. First, respondent Victoria Station sold to Mr. Shaffer and was "engaged in the business of selling" a glass of wine, rather than merely the wine itself. Appellant urges that although a purchase of the wine glass was never intended or implied, the container of the wine sold was so integral to the transaction as to fall within the ambit of section 402A. Secondly, the shattering of the glass without prior warning of a defect fails to meet the reasonable expectations of an ordinary consumer and thus renders the product unreasonably dangerous as defined by our Supreme Court in Seattle-First Nat'l Bank v. Tabert, supra at 154.

Respondent answers that appellant is suggesting a reallocation of risk whenever an unexpected injury occurs, thus creating a theory of "enterprise liability." Respondent characterizes such to be an improvident expansion of the strict liability concept, and points to cases where services incidental to sales were not held to be within the scope of strict liability. See, e.g., Magrine v. Spector, 100 N.J. Super. 223, 241 A.2d 637 (1968) (involving a dentist's use of a defective hypodermic needle which broke in the plaintiff's gum); Speyer, Inc. v. Humble Oil & Refining Co., 403 F.2d 766 (3d Cir. 1968), cert. denied, 394 U.S. 1015 (1969) (wherein a lessee of a malfunctioning gasoline pump failed in a strict liability argument against the lessor).

The basic purposes of the strict liability concept revolve around protecting the innocent consumer and reallocating risks with those responsible in a chain of distribution. See Seattle-First Nat'l Bank v. Tabert, supra at 148, citing Note, 45 Wash. L. Rev. 431 (1970). In the instant case appellant admits it would be impossible to demonstrate the glass was originally defective as manufactured. For this reason appellant chose not to serve the manufacturer in this suit. For the same reason, however, liability could not be expected to flow from the retailer (should we characterize the transaction in, question as a sale under section 402A) back to the manufacturer, even had he been responsible. Thus, the idea of holding a retailer liable to effect a conduit to a more inaccessible manufacturer would not be served in this fact pattern.

Thus, disposition of the case must turn on the degree of protection to be accorded the consumer in the instance of an unexpected accident. Treating the facts presented in the manner most favorable to the appellant, it seems clear that the wine glass could be deemed unreasonably dangerous. The major question, then, becomes whether appellant offers a tenable argument when asserting the wine glass was a product sold, and thus under the aegis of section 402A. We do not believe so.

Were the wine glass in question held to be a mere facet of the sale of the "glass of wine" and thus a "product" for the purposes of section 402A, the theory of strict liability would be greatly and unnecessarily expanded. The reasonably clear standard of engagement "in the business of selling ... a product" would be abandoned in deference to a less predictable question—whether the injury-producing aspect of the sale was necessary to the sale. If a wine glass renders a restaurateur strictly liable because he could not sell wine without it, what of other tablewear, the waiters and the bus boys, the furnishings to effect an attractive atmosphere, or the building housing the establishment? The argument could be made that numerous aspects of a restaurant's operation, or that of any other retailer, are integral to each sale. To ignore the fact that this allegedly defective glass was never sold would create great uncertainty as to the limits of strict liability.

Appellant argues that such may be necessary as he has no other theory of recovery except implied warranty, which he admits is analogous to strict liability. But there appears no reason why a negligence theory based on a res ipsa loquitur argument would not have proven suitable for the type of unexpected and unexplainable accident as occurred here. Thus, the suggested expansion of the strict liability theory would be unnecessary as well as unsound.

The Question of Pleading of the Implied Warranty Theory of Recovery

Respondent argues that appellant failed to allege a breach of warranty in his complaint and, therefore, such a theory of recovery should not be reviewed. This stand, however, contradicts the liberal posture taken in this state toward motions and pleadings.

Civil Rule 15(b) reads as follows:

When issues not raised by the pleadings are tried by express or implied consent of the parties, they shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the pleadings. Such amendment of the pleadings as may be necessary to cause them to conform to the evidence and to raise these issues may be made upon motion of any party at any time, even after judgment; . . .

The broad scope of this rule demonstrates an intent to discourage arguments such as respondent's based on formalities of pleadings. Amende v. Pierce County, 70 Wn.2d 391, 423 P.2d 634 (1967). Since the trial judge spoke directly to the issue of breach of implied warranties in the judgment of dismissal, review by this court is appropriate regardless of an absence of properly amended pleadings. Smith v. Pacific Pools, Inc., 12 Wn. App. 578, 582, 530 P.2d 658 (1975).

The Question of Breach of Implied Warranty

Appellant argues that RCW 62A.2-314 creates a cause of action in the instant case for breach of implied warranty. Those sections of the statute argued to be applicable are as follows:

62A.2-314 Implied warranty: Merchantability; usage of trade. (1) Unless excluded or modified (RCW 62A.2-316), a warranty that the goods shall be merchantable is implied in a contract for their sale if the seller is a merchant with respect to goods of that kind. Under this section the serving for value of food or drink to be consumed either on the premises or elsewhere is a sale.

(2) Goods to be merchantable must be at least such as

(c) are fit for the ordinary purposes for which such goods are used; and

(e) are adequately contained, packaged, and labeled as the agreement may require;. . .

Appellant argues that the language "serving for value of food or drink" encompasses the serving of a glass of wine, and, therefore, that transaction constitutes a sale and creates implied warranties. While creative, this argument appears illogical. The statute elsewhere defines "sale" as a transferring of title. RCW 62A.2-106(1). To interpret this section as does appellant requires the wine glass to be considered part of the sale, yet, it is clear, title does not pass as to the glass. Therefore, we interpret this language to relate solely to the food or drink sold and not an accompanying container.

For the reasons enumerated we affirm the decision of the lower court.

Callow, J., concurs.

1 This is, in effect, a dismissal on the pleadings and the facts related by plaintiff for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. CR 12(b)(6). See also RCW 4.32.190.