Heil Co. v. Grant

DUNAGAN, Chief Justice.

This is a products liability case which involves the doctrines of assumption of risk and misuse, the “Dead Man’s” Statute and exemplary damages. Valmarie Grant and her children sued for the death of James Grant (hereinafter referred to as Decedent), ■ their husband and father respectively. The defendant-appellant is the Heil Company, a major manufacturer of hydraulic hoists.

Decedent was killed on February 18, 1972, while assisting his brother, Vernon Grant, in making repairs on Vernon Grant’s dump truck. The dump truck was equipped with a telescopic sleeve hoist…