Kennedy v. Cumberland Engineering Co., Inc. Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: A worker was injured by a machine nearly nine years after its sale. The court struck down a ten-year products liability statute of repose, finding it unconstitutional under the state’s “access to courts” clause because it barred the worker’s claim before it could even be brought.
Legal Significance: This case establishes that a state constitutional “access to courts” provision can invalidate a products liability statute of repose that extinguishes a cause of action before an injury occurs, thereby preserving a remedy for a common law tort.
Kennedy v. Cumberland Engineering Co., Inc. Law School Study Guide
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Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
In October 1978, plaintiff Charles Kennedy suffered the amputation of three fingers while using a machine manufactured by defendant, Cumberland Engineering Co. The machine had been first sold for use in November 1969. In May 1978, the Rhode Island legislature enacted G.L. § 9-1-13(b), a statute of repose requiring that all products liability actions be commenced within ten years of the product’s first purchase. Kennedy filed his complaint in October 1981, which was within the applicable three-year statute of limitations for personal injury. However, the ten-year repose period had expired in November 1979, approximately one year after his injury occurred and nearly two years before he filed suit. The defendant moved for summary judgment, asserting that the statute of repose barred the action. The trial court granted the motion. Kennedy appealed, arguing the statute of repose was unconstitutional under Article I, Section 5 of the Rhode Island Constitution, which guarantees a remedy for all injuries.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Does a ten-year products liability statute of repose that bars a cause of action before the injury giving rise to the claim has occurred violate the Rhode Island Constitution’s guarantee that every person ought to find a remedy for all injuries or wrongs?
Yes. The statute of repose is unconstitutional because it violates the state Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Du
IRAC Legal Analysis
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Legal Issue
Does a ten-year products liability statute of repose that bars a cause of action before the injury giving rise to the claim has occurred violate the Rhode Island Constitution’s guarantee that every person ought to find a remedy for all injuries or wrongs?
Conclusion
The case serves as a key precedent demonstrating how state constitutional provisions Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud e
Legal Rule
A statute that imposes an absolute bar to a recognized cause of Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut ali
Legal Analysis
The Supreme Court of Rhode Island held that Article I, Section 5 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A ten-year statute of repose for product liability claims is unconstitutional