Couch v. Mine Safety Appliances Co.

Plaintiff Sharon Couch's husband, Lonnie Ray Couch, was killed when struck on the head by part of a falling tree while working as a logger in August 1982. At the time, Lonnie Couch was wearing an aluminum helmet manufactured by Mine Safety Appliances Company (Mine Safety). Sharon Couch brought this product liability action on behalf of herself, their daughter Kelly, and Lonnie Couch's estate as its personal representative. After trial, the jury returned special verdicts finding that Mine Safety had supplied a helmet which was not reasonably safe, and that the helmet's unsafe condition was a…