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BARNISH v. KWI BLDG. CO.

Nos. 15 WAP 2008, 16 WAP 2008, 17 WAP 2008, 18 WAP 2008, 19 WAP 2008.

980 A.2d 535 (2009)

Alfonce A. BARNISH and Billie M. Bozic, his Wife, Appellants v. KWI BUILDING COMPANY; United McGill Corporation; McGill Airclean Corporation; Fenwal Safety Systems, Inc.; and Grecon Electronics, Inc., Appellees. Sandy L. Bussard and Christine L. Bussard, his Wife, Appellants v. KWI Building Company; United McGill Corporation; McGill Airclean Corporation; Fenwal Safety Systems, Inc.; and Grecon Electronics, Inc., Appellees. David A. Johnson and Stacey L. Johnson, his Wife, Appellants v. KWI Building Company; United McGill Corporation; McGill Airclean Corporation; Fenwal Safety Systems, Inc.; and Grecon Electronics, Inc., Appellees. Jody L. Covert, Executrix of the Estate of James C. Covert, Deceased, Appellant v. KWI Building Company; United McGill Corporation; McGill Airclean Corporation; Fenwal Safety Systems, Inc.; and Grecon Electronics, Inc., Appellees. Joyce Engelken, Executrix of the Estate Of Gregg Engelken (a/k/a Gregory G.), Deceased, and Joyce Engelken, Wife, Individually, Appellants v. KWI Building Company; United McGill Corporation; McGill Airclean Corporation; Fenwal Safety Systems, Inc.; and Grecon Electronics, Inc., Appellees.

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Decided October 2, 2009.

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Meghan Fawcett Wise, Pittsburgh, Zimmer Kunz, P.L.L.C., for Alfonce A. Barnish and Billie M. Bozic.

Paul A. Hilko, Jon Robert Perry, Rosen Louik & Perry, P.C., Pittsburgh, for Jody L. Covert.

Brian Scott Kane, Dapper, Baldasare, Benson, Behling & Kane, P.C., Pittsburgh, for KWI Building Company.

Warren L. Siegfried, Wayman, Irvin & McAuley, L.L.C., Pittsburgh, for Fenwal Safety Systems, Inc.

Kim M. Watterson, Reed Smith, Pittsburgh, L.L.P., Patrick Louis Mechas, Burns, White & Hickton, L.L.C., Jeffrey Phillips MacHarg, Reed Smith, L.L.C., for Grecon Electronics, Inc.

Joshua Wall, Cozen O'Connor, Philadelphia, for United McGill Corporation & McGill Airclean Corporation.

Christopher M. Arfaa, Law Office of Christopher M. Arfaa, P.C., for Pacific Legal Foundation.

Ansley Stell Westbrook, II, Pittsburgh, Robb Leonard Mulvihill, L.L.P., for Joyce Engelken.

Before: CASTILLE, C.J., SAYLOR, EAKIN, BAER, TODD, McCAFFERY, GREENSPAN, JJ.

OPINION

Justice BAER.

We granted review in this case to consider the effect of a product's prior successful use on a plaintiff's ability to withstand summary judgment in a strict product liability action based upon the malfunction theory. As will be discussed in more detail below, a plaintiff pursuing a case under the malfunction theory can assert a successful strict product liability claim based purely on circumstantial evidence in cases where the...

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