Susan Parks v. Ariens Company

KELLY, Circuit Judge.

This negligence case requires us to decide whether a product manufacturer can satisfy its duty to a purchaser by making available an optional safety feature that would have prevented the accident that gave rise to the suit. We agree with the district court 1 that it can, and that the defendant in this case did. We therefore affirm. 2

I

Timothy Parks died from asphyxiation after the Gravely Promaster 152Z riding mower he was operating on his property fell off the edge of an embankment and rolled over on top of him. 3 His wife, Susan Parks (Parks) brought this suit alleging,…