Lamon v. McDonnell Douglas Corp

In Lamon v. McDonnell Douglas Corp., 91 Wn.2d 345, 588 P.2d 1346 (1979), a flight attendant, Lamon, sought damages for injuries she sustained falling through an emergency exit hatch that had been left open, contrary to instructions received during training, by another attendant in an airplane galley. Lamon, 91 Wn.2d at 346-47. Lamon alleged that the airplane, a DC-10, was defectively designed and manufactured, and that the manufacturer, McDonnell Douglas, had negligently failed to properly warn of a dangerous condition. Lamon, 91 Wn.2d at 346. A motion for summary judgment was granted to McDonnell Douglas. Id. On appeal, this Court reversed. Id. The Court referred to an expert's affidavit that had been introduced before the trial court comparing the escape hatches of a DC-10 and Boeing 747, and wrote that "the comparison of the two hatches in the affidavit raises the inference that a reasonable alternative which poses less risk is feasible." Lamon, 91 Wn.2d at 352.