By Sterling Anthony, CPP, expert witness in packaging, warnings, patent-infringement, cargo loading and securement
Crates are a form of packaging, constructed of wood, having a base, front, back, ends, and top. Designs range from open-lattice to fully-sheathed. Because of size and weight, crates have design features that allow them to be handled mechanically.
The sturdiness associated with crates explain their choice in applications involving items that are large and heavy; in fact, it’s not unusual for a crate and its contents to weigh hundreds, even thousands, of pounds. In addition to size and weight, the contents typically are of high monetary value.
When a crate fails, the result can be property damage, sure, but also personal injury. Especially when it’s the latter, triggering litigation, either or both sides would be wise to retain an expert.
The expert should have training, knowledge, and experience in the myriad factors involved in the specification, design, construction, and testing of crates; furthermore, it’s always a valued plus when the expert has served on other cases involving crates.
Strict liability
Determining whether a crate was unreasonably dangerous or defective, and if so, whether by a design defect or by a manufacturing defect, is seldom straight forward.
Even two crates built from the same specification can be meaningfully different, due to factors such as the quality of wood and the method of assembly.
Sometimes, only photos are available, because the actual crate has been scrapped. On the other hand, when the involved crate is available, it’s not unusual for that crate to have been damaged, either by an untoward incident or by having been opened. Consequently, an on-site inspection, if not conducted exactingly, likely will overlook pertinent information, resulting in a waste of time and expenses.
Negligence
The determination of whether there has been a breach of reasonable care is multifaceted. Customization is the norm in crate design; therefore, invoking a relevant standard (or portion thereof) requires knowledge of, among other things, good manufacturing practices and safe operational practices, in order to allege what a defendant knew, or should have known.
Complicating matters further is that breach of care is not limited to crate construction; it can extend to attending activities that can affect the safety of personnel and cargo. Those conditions include: loading and immobilization of contents; transportation; storage; material handling; method of opening; and, method of removal of contents.
Failure-to-warn
Determining whether a warning was warranted in regard to a crate requires delving beyond hazards that are inherent with any large, heavy object, for such hazards are subject to an open-and-obvious argument. On the other hand, that an unfortunate incident occurred, is not proof, in and of itself, of a need for a warning. More is required for that determination.
In conclusion, crates constitute a category of packaging that’s far different from retail and other categories; as such, an attorney should vet accordingly.
Sterling Anthony, CPP, is a consultant to the industrial, institutional, and government sectors who also provides services to the legal community as an expert. He is a former manager at Fortune 100 companies and a former instructor at two major universities. His contact information is: 100 Renaissance Center-Box 43176, Detroit, MI 48243; (office) 313-531-1875; (cell) 313-623-0522; (fax) 313-531-1972; thepackagingexpertwitness@gmail; www.thepackagingexpertwitness.com