Attorney obtained a defense verdict in a product liability case in Franklin County

Attorney obtained a defense verdict in a product liability case in Franklin County.  The case is brought in the name of homeowners on behalf of their insurance carrier.  The plaintiffs' claim was that an aquarium light fixture placed over a salt water aquarium caught fire and caused substantial damage to a home.  In defense of the claim, we presented evidence that the product was used in violation of the warnings printed on the product which stated that the product should be used for fresh water only.  Complicating matters was the fact that the box that the product was sold in contained a sticker which stated "fresh and salt water."  We argued that the sticker on the box pertained to the light bulb and not the fixture itself.  Fortunately, the homeowners denied ever seeing the box prior to the fire.  The jury did find that there was a defect in the product because there was a feasible design that was not implemented in the light fixture.  However, the jury found that the defect was not the cause of the fire.  Instead, the jury found that the cause of the fire was the use of the product contrary to the warnings contained on the product.  The jury was out five hours and twice came back reporting that they were deadlocked before finally returning its verdict.