Lexington Insurance Co. v. Rheem/Ruud Manufacturing Co.

DOUCET, Judge.

This is an appeal from a jury verdict in a products liability case. The question before us is whether plaintiffs, through the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, sustained their burden of proving that the product was unreasonably dangerous in normal use.

On March 25, 1989, the home of L.C. and Mercedes Deshotel was destroyed by fire. The Deshotels and their homeowners insurer, Lexington Insurance Company, sued, among others, Rheem/Ruud Manufacturing Company (Rheem). Plaintiffs alleged that the fire was caused by defects in the air conditioning/heating unit manufactured by Rheem and…