James Pressley v. Sears-Roebuck and Company and Roper Corporation

RONEY, Circuit Judge:

This diversity action arises out of injuries sustained by the plaintiff James Pressley when his leg was cut by the rotary blade of a lawn mower manufactured by defendant Roper Corporation and sold by defendant Sears, Roebuck and Company. The issue on appeal is whether the district court erred in granting partial summary judgment to defendants under the plaintiffs theories of negligence and strict liability in tort for failure to equip the lawn mower with a deadman control or other like safety feature. We hold that it did not.

Plaintiffs mother-in-law purchased the riding…