Phillips v. Cricket Lighters

�1 This personal injury action was instituted after a tragic fire killed single mother Robyn Williams and two of her three children, Jerome and Alphonso. The fire was started by a minor child playing with a disposable butane lighter that did not have child-resistant features. Appellant is Gwendolyn Phillips, who instituted this action in her capacity as administratrix of the estates of the decedents and also in her capacity as guardian of Neil, Robyn’s sole surviving child. We find that the trial court improperly granted summary judgment to Appellees on the ground that Appellant cannot recover in this action due to the fact the product at issue was not used by an “intended user.” We also reject Appellees’ contention that federal consumer protection law preempts this action. We conclude that summary judgment should not have been granted to the manufacturers and distributors of the disposable butane lighter used to start the fire under the risk-utility test applied in Pennsylvania to determine whether a product is defective. We reverse in part, affirm in part, and remand.

�2 We first examine the deposition of Neil Williams, who witnessed the events at issue. During the night of November 30, 1993, Neil, who was five years old at the time, awoke in his apartment bedroom after hearing noises in the kitchen. He saw Jerome, then age two years and four months, with a lighter in his hand. Jerome had pulled a chair next to the refrigerator and had pulled down his mother’s purse, which was located on top of the refrigerator. Neil tried unsuccessfully to awaken his sleeping mother. Neil then returned to his bedroom, where Jerome, still with the lighter, also was located. Jerome tried to light the lighter twice. His second effort was successful. The flame ignited the bed linens, and the room began to fill with smoke and fire. Neil unsuccessfully attempted to awaken his mother a second time. Neil then went to a window and started to scream. After suffering from smoke inhalation, he was rescued by a neighbor. The other three occupants of the apartment died. The record also establishes that the lighter was a Cricket disposable butane lighter, which was retrieved from the apartment following the fire.