Ritter v. Abbey-Etna MacHine Co.

OPINION

NORTON, Judge.

Appellants challenge the trial court’s denial of their summary judgment motion. Respondent was injured in an industrial accident involving a steel tube mill. He sued the manufacturer, distributor and component manufacturer of the mill. The manufacturer moved for summary judgment, arguing the steel mill was an improvement to real property, thereby time barring Ritter’s claims. See Minn.Stat. § 541.051, subd. 1 (1986). The trial court denied summary judgment and certified the question as important and doubtful.

FACTS

Respondent Richard Ritter worked for Metal-Matic, Inc. in…