Brown v. North American Manufacturing Co.

Plaintiff Deane Brown lost his left leg in the auger of a self-unloading feed wagon known as a “Grain-O-Vator”, manufactured by defendant North American Manufacturing Co., an Iowa corporation. In his original complaint, plaintiff specified negligence and strict liability in tort as theories supporting a damage recovery.

The trial of the cause ultimately proceeded on the strict liability theory alone. Discovery consisted of depositions of the parties and certain anticipated witnesses for plaintiff. The case was tried before a jury in the District Court, Flathead County, beginning October 19,…