Smith v. Ingersoll-Rand Co.

OPINION

MATTHEWS, Chief Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Dan Smith suffered permanent injuries after an air compressor door fell on his head. He brought a strict products Hability lawsuit in federal district court against Ingersoll Rand Company, the manufacturer of the air compressor. Following three jury trials and a remand from the Ninth Circuit, the United States District Court for the District of Alaska, Singleton, J., certified the following questions to this court:(1) Did the 1986 Tort Reform Act change the existing law on comparative fault in products liability cases such that a plaintiff's…