Helms v. Sporicidin International

No. 92-10-CIV-4-H (871 F. Supp. 837) (E.D.N.C. December 2, 1994)

The court holds that Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) § 24(b) preempts a respiratory technician's and her husband's state-law failure to warn claims against the manufacturer of a sterilizing solution that allegedly caused the technician's health problems, but that FIFRA does not preempt their claims for negligent design, manufacture, or testing. The court first holds that, as private citizens, the plaintiffs do not have a cause of action based on an alleged violation of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act standard for material safety data (MSD) sheets. The court also holds that violations of the OSH Act's standards on MSD sheets and labeling requirements do not establish a state-law cause of action for negligent failure to warn. The court further holds that the MSD sheet accompanying the disinfectant is within FIFRA § 2(p)(2)(A)'s definition of "label." The court therefore concludes that plaintiffs' failure to warn claim is preempted and grants summary judgment for the manufacturer on this claim. The court next holds that there is enough evidence to support plaintiffs' claims of negligent design, manufacture, and testing, and plaintiffs' fraudulent misrepresentation claims. Summary judgment would be inappropriate, because a genuine issue of fact exists. The court approves and adopts the magistrate's recommendation and memorandum as its own. Finally, the court notes that remaining before it for disposition by trial or otherwise are plaintiffs' claims for negligent design, testing, and manufacture; negligent failure to comply with FIFRA's notification provision; fraudulent concealment and/or misrepresentation; and plaintiff husband's derivative claim for loss of consortium.

Counsel for Plaintiffs
John A. Jones
Michaels, Jones, Martin & Parris
4000 Westchase Blvd., Raleigh NC 27607
(919) 821-0005

Counsel for Defendant
John M. Martin
Ward & Smith
120 W. Fire Tower Rd., P.O. Box 8088, Greenville NC 27835
(919) 355-3030

[25 ELR 20742]

MALCOLM J. HOWARD, District Judge.

This matter comes before the court on defendant Sporicidin International's (Sporicidin) motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. This matter was referred to the Honorable Charles K. McCotter, Jr., United States Magistrate Judge, who entered a Memorandum and Recommendation on September 8, 1994. Both the plaintiffs and the defendant have filed objections to the Memorandum and Recommendation within the allotted time period. Thus, this matter is ripe for adjudication.

Dorothy Helms filed the complaint on January 9, 1992, alleging personal injuries from exposure to Sporicidin Cold Sterilizing Solution (SCSS), which is manufactured by Sporicidin. The original complaint sets forth several causes of action. On January 21, 1992, the plaintiffwas entitled to amend the complaint to add William C. Helms, III, as a party. On May 13, 1994, the parties were allowed to file a second amended complaint which maintained the following causes of action: negligent design, testing and manufacture; negligent failure to warn; negligent failure to provide additional warning in violation of Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) § 6(a)(2); loss of consortium; and fraudulent concealment and/or misrepresentation.

Defendant Sporicidin filed a supplemental motion for summary judgment on June 29, 1994, alleging that the plaintiffs' entire action should be dismissed for failure to state an action upon which relief can be granted. The Memorandum and Recommendation advised the court that the claims based upon the failure to warn theory are preempted by the FIFRA and should be dismissed, while the claims for defective testing, design and manufacture are not preempted, and should survive this court's review for summary judgment.

The plaintiffs' objections to the Memorandum and Recommendation revolve around the dismissal of the claims based upon failure to warn. The plaintiffs assert that the Magistrate Judge misconstrued the case law when it held that it is irrelevant whether or not the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a label as defined under the FIFRA. Plaintiffs maintain that the defendant had an obligation to provide accurate information in the MSDS to employers pursuant to a separate federal regulation established by OSHA. Plaintiffs assert that the violation of a separate federal regulation is not preempted by FIFRA and provides them a cause of action for damages resulting for violation of OSHA regulations.

FIFRA provides that a state "shall not impose or continue in effect any requirements for labeling . . . in addition to or different from those required under [FIFRA]." 7 U.S.C. § 136v(b) (emphasis added). Plaintiffs contend that the defendant failed to warn of the hazards involved in the utilization of their product without a proper ventilation system in effect. Such failure allegedly resulted because the defendant did not adequately stipulate in the required MSDS all the relevant information detailing the hazardous substances contained in their product and the potential risks involved in the utilization of the product. See 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200(g)(1) (a manufacturer must provide an employer with a MSDS for each hazardous substance used). Plaintiffs assert that had plaintiff Dorothy Helms' employer been notified of the potential risks involved in utilizing the product, the employer would have provided the employee with drastically different facilities for using the product.

[25 ELR 20743]

As a law of the United States, FIFRA "shall be the supreme law of the land" and which state law can not contradict. U.S. Const. art. VI, cl. 2; Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc., U.S. , , 112 S. Ct. 2608, 2617, 120 L. Ed. 2d 407 (1992) (quoting Maryland v. Louisiana, 451 U.S. 725, 746, 101 S. Ct. 2114, 2128, 68 L. Ed. 2d 576 (1981)) (state law which differs from federal law is "'without effect.'"). Case law has determined that the language found within 7 U.S.C. § 136v provides that the federal standards within the statute preempt state law relating to the sufficiency of labels on FIFRA. To object to a label which was deemed to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") federal standards would be "seek[ing] to hold the label to a standard different from the federal one." Worm v. American Cyanamid Company, 5 F.3d 744, 748 (4th Cir.1993). Consequently, any state cause of action challenging "the adequacy of information provided by [the defendants] on its labeling" is preempted by FIFRA. Id. at 748.

The plaintiffs have alleged a state cause of action, in particular a failure to warn claim, based not upon a state regulation, but a separate federal regulation, 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200(g)(1). This Occupational Safety and Health Act ("OSHA") provision holds that a chemical manufacturer "shall obtain or develop a [MSDS] for each hazardous chemical they produce or import." 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200(g)(1). The plaintiffs contend that its complaint alleging a failure to warn is premised upon the OSHA standard, and thus is not preempted by the federal regulation FIFRA.

Though it is correct that two federal regulations should be given equal dignity, the plaintiffs are not accurate in their assurance that they have a cause of action based upon an alleged violation of OSHA. As private citizens, the plaintiffs do not have a cause of action for damages based upon a violation of an OSHA standard. See 29 U.S.C. § 653. See Johnson v. Koppers Co., Inc., 524 F. Supp. 1182, app. dismissed, (D.C.Ohio1981) (OSHA does not provide a private right of action for an employee for violations of the employer.); Blessing v. United States, 447 F. Supp. 1160 (D.C.Pa.1978) (no private right of action against the U.S.); Otto v. Specialties, Inc., 386 F. Supp. 1240 (D.C.Miss.1974) (OSHA chapter does not permit a civil action for damages to remedy alleged violations of safety standards under OSHA).

Though OSHA does not maintain a private cause of action, the question remains whether a state common law action for negligence may be premised upon a violation of the federal regulations. The two federal provisions detailing labeling requirements are to be read in conjunction with one another.

Violations of the OSHA standards do not establish a state law cause of action for failure to warn in direct opposition to the EPA case law. A label under FIFRA includes "all labels and all of the written, printed or graphic matter accompanying the pesticide or device at any time." 7 U.S.C. § 136(p)(2)(A). The accompanying MSDS is within this broad encompassing definition. However, even if it had not been defined as a label, failure to warn claims based upon materials unassociated with the label challenge the sufficiency of the label approved by EPA. Worm II, 5 F.3d at 747; Papas v. Upjohn Co., 985 F.2d 516, 518 (11th Cir.1993). Any state law action challenging the sufficiency of the label based upon a failure to warn claim of the hazardous material is preempted by the federal regulation found in 7 U.S.C. § 136v. Id.

Case law's interpretation of the EPA preemption does not forestall a corporation from being punished for violation of an OSHA regulation. OSHA creates an enforcement arrangement in which the Department of Labor may bring action against violation of the statutory provisions. Accordingly, summary judgment is granted to the defendant on the failure to warn claim.

The defendant objects to the Memorandum and Recommendation's denial of summary judgment on plaintiffs' negligent design, manufacture, and testing claims. Defendant contends that the plaintiffs have not produced enough evidence as the non-moving party to oppose summary judgment. Though the defendant is correct that a non-moving party bears the burden of coming forward with evidence to oppose summary judgment. Kimmell v. Seven Up Bottling Co., 993 F.2d 410 (4th Cir.1993). A non-movant "may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the adverse party's pleading, but the adverse party's response, by affidavits . . ., must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." F.R.Civ.Pro. 56(e).

However, after a thorough and careful review of the Memorandum and Recommendation, and the record on this matter, this court finds that there is enough evidence to support plaintiffs' allegations in their negligent design, manufacture and testing claims. A genuine issue of fact exists and summary judgment would be inappropriate. For those same reasons, the court finds that there is enough evidence for fraudulent misrepresentation to survive summary judgment. Cipollone, U.S. at , 112 S. Ct. at 2625. As the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge is, in all respects, in accordance with the law and should be approved. Therefore, the court hereby adopts the Memorandum and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge as its own.

Accordingly, the court finds that the claims based on the failure to warn theory are preempted by the FIFRA. Summary judgment is GRANTED to the defendant on plaintiffs claim for failure to warn. The court hereby DENIES the defendant's motion for summary judgment as to the claims on negligent design, manufacture, and testing. There remains before the court the following claims for disposition by trial or otherwise: negligent design, testing, and manufacture; negligent failure to comply with FIFRA notification provision; fraudulent concealment and/or misrepresentation; and the plaintiff husband's derivative claim for loss of consortium.

MEMORANDUM AND RECOMMENDATION

Sept. 8, 1994.

McCOTTER, United States Magistrate Judge.

This matter is before the court on the defendant's motions for summary judgment. The plaintiffs, Dorothy and William C. Helms, seek damages for injuries that allegedly resulted from Dorothy Helms' exposure to Sporicidin Cold Sterilizing Solution (SCSS), which is manufactured by Sporicidin International (Sporicidin). Sporicidin contends that all of the Helms' claims are preempted by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 136 et seq. (FIFRA). The motion for summary judgment should be granted as to all claim premised on Sporicidin's failure to warn and denied as to the claims based on defective testing, design, and manufacturing.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Helms filed the complaint on 9 January 1992, alleging personal injuries arising out of the use of SCSS. An amended complaint was filed to add Helms' husband, William C. Helms, III, alleging a claim for loss of consortium. Sporicidin served its answer on 23 March 1992, which substantially denied the substantive allegations of the amended complaint.

On 9 December 1993, Sporicidin moved for summary judgment on the grounds that the FIFRA preempts the four causes of action set forth in the amended complaint. Helms then sought leave to file a second amended complaint. The second amended complaint adds a cause of action based upon the alleged failure of Sporicidin to comply with certain federal laws, deletes two causes of action based on breach of warranty, and adds a failure to warn claim based on Sporicidin's failure to update certain material safety data sheets (MSDS's). Specifically, Helms contends that Sporicidin caused her injuries when it "negligently and recklessly designed [25 ELR 20744] . . ., manufactured and produced . . . Sporicidin[;] . . . failed to inspect or monitor levels of glutaraldehyde emission[;] . . . [and] failed to provide adequate and proper warnings with respect to . . . Sporicidin." (Amended Complaint, §§ 7(a)-(d)).

This court granted the plaintiffs leave to file their second amended complaint on 12 May 1994. The second amended complaint was served on 7 June 1994. Sporicidin filed a supplemental motion for summary judgment on 29 June 1994. The court will now consider both motions.

PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACTS

Dorothy Helms worked at Craven regional Medical Center as a respiratory technician from 1976 to June 1989. Beginning in 1988, her job duties included cleaning equipment and maintaining and delivering equipment and supplies. Helms began using SCSS to sterilize and disinfect medical equipment. In March, 1989, Helms began experiencing health problems as a result of her use of SCSS. During the period that Helms used SCSS, SCSS was registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). It was sold and distributed by Sporicidin International with EPA approved product labeling.

Sporicidin contains and emits glutaraldehyde, a toxic chemical manufactured by Union Carbide Corporation. Union Carbide literature describes Glutaraldehyde as toxic to humans whether contact occurs topically or through ingestion or inhalation. (Union Carbide Corporation, Ucarcide Antimicrobial Bulk Storage and Handling Facility Design pp. 6-7, 13 (1986)). The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set a Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of .2ppm for Glutaraldehyde. (Affidavit Robert K. McLellan, M.D., MPH). The TLV is the maximum permissible exposure to a hazardous substance. Id.

Ucarcide is an aqueous solution that contains 25% glutaraldehyde. Id. Union Carbide provided specific instructions for handling Ucarcide. (1986 Union Carbide brochure). If vapors are strong enough to irritate the eyes or nose, the TLV is probably being exceeded and special ventilation and/or respiratory protection may be necessary. Id. The brochure gave other specific instructions concerning respiratory protection, ventilation, and other precautions.

Ucarcide was a component of SCSS. SCSS was delivered to purchasers in two bottles, one containing the 25% aqueous solution of glutaraldehyde and one containing a buffer. (Deposition of Robert Schattner, D.D.S.). The purchaser would buffer the solution by mixing the contents of the two bottles and diluting the mixture with water. The MSDS's accompanying SCSS did not contain the warnings provided to Sporicidin by Union Carbide.

Testing of SCSS would have revealed that glutaraldehyde exposure in excess of .2ppm could occur in certain circumstances. (McLellan Affidavit). This excess exposure would depend upon room size, ventilation, the solution's concentration of glutaraldehyde, and how the product was used. Id. The key factor is assessing the respiratory health risks posed to individuals working with SCSS is the airborne concentration of glutaraldehyde. Id.

Shipping SCSS with a 25% glutaraldehyde solution, which would be added to a buffer to create a 2% glutaraldehyde solution, was not essential, because SCSS could have been shipped in a diluted form. Id. Even after dilution to concentrations below 2%, however, risks of overexposure remain under certain conditions. Id. Helms' exposure to glutaraldehyde would have been substantially less, if SCSS had been shipped in a prediluted form. Id.

PROPOSED CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

Sporicidin moves for summary judgment claiming that the FIFRA preempts Helms' claims. Summary judgment must be granted if, after an adequate time for discovery, "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986); Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). Rule 56(c) requires an examination of the entire record including pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions on file, and affidavits in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. The court must also consider every inference that can be drawn from this evidence. Ross v. Communications Satellite Corp., 759 F.2d 355, 364 (4th Cir.1985).

The non-moving party, however, cannot "rest on the mere allegations" of the pleadings, but must produce "specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). "The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the [non-moving party's] position will be sufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the [nonmoving party]." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 252, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 2512, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986). "Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, there is no genuine issue for trial," and summary judgment is appropriate. Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S. Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L. Ed. 2d 538 (1986).

Federal preemption is based upon the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution: the laws of the United States "shall be the supreme Law of the Land; . . . any Thing in the constitution or Laws of any state to the Contrary notwithstanding." U.S. Const. art. VI, cl. 2. State law that conflicts with federal law is "'without effect.'" Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc., U.S. , , 112 S. Ct. 2608, 2617, 120 L. Ed. 2d 407 (1992) (quoting Maryland v. Louisiana, 451 U.S. 725, 746, 101 S. Ct. 2114, 2129, 68 L. Ed. 2d 576 (1981)). A federal law preempts state law if preemption is the "'clear and manifest purpose of Congress.'" Id. (quoting Rice v. Santa Fe Elevator Corp., 331 U.S. 218, 67 S. Ct. 1146, 91 L.Ed. 1447 (1947)). Congressional intent to preempt may be expressly stated by statute or implied by its structure or purpose. Id. Preemption is implied when the state law conflicts with federal lawor if federal law occupies the field to the extent that states are left without room to supplement federal law. Id. U.S. at , 112 S. Ct. at 2618. Preemption applies to statutory and common law. Id. at , 112 S. Ct. at 2620.

FIFRA governs registration, labeling, and use of pesticides. Ruckelshaus v. Monsanto Co., 467 U.S. 986, 991, 104 S. Ct. 2862, 2866-67, 81 L. Ed. 2d 815 (1984). Although FIFRA may be supplemented in certain ways, it expressly controls regulation of labeling. FIFRA's labeling provisions read, in relevant part, as follows: Such State shall not impose or continue in effect any requirements for labeling or packaging in addition to or different from those required under this subchapter. 7 U.S.C. § 136v.

The FIFRA preempts a plaintiffs state law failure to warn and inadequate labeling claims. Worm v. American Cyanamid, 5 F.3d 744 (4th Cir.1993). The Fourth Circuit has limited the narrow preemptive overlap of § 136v(b) to cover only a "state common law cause of action that rests on an alleged failure to warn or communicate information about a product through its labeling." Id. at 747. "Claims for negligent testing, manufacturing, and formulation . . . are not preempted." Id.

Failure to Warn

Helms alleges negligence by Sporicidin for its failure to provide an adequate Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), which Helms contends is not a label. A manufacturer must obtain or develop a MSDS for each hazardous substance used. 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200(g)(1). The MSDS provided by Sporicidin did not include relevant information included in the MSDS provided by Union Carbide. Had Helms' supervisors known of the dangers revealed by the Ucarcide MSDS, they would have required Helms to [25 ELR 20745] use the product under different conditions, as recommended by the Ucarcide MSDS.

Helms' argument that MSDS is not a label under FIFRA is irrelevant. Failure to warn claims based on materials unassociated with the label necessarily challenge the sufficiency of the label. Papas v. Upjohn Co., 985 F.2d 516, 518 (11th Cir.1993). The court in Worm II specifically held that a plaintiff cannot avoid preemption by basing a failure to warn claim on statements unassociated with the label, if the challenged language questions the sufficiency of the language approved by the EPA pursuant to § 136v. 5 F.3d at 747. By challenging the MSDS provided by Sporicidin, Helms essentially challenges the language that was approved by the EPA under the FIFRA. This claim is preempted, and summary judgment should be allowed. Id.

Defective Product Claim

Claims based on a defect in the product are not preempted. Id. As the court in Worm II explained, however, "[t]he line between a claim for mislabeling and a claim for defective product may not always be clear." Id. at 747. The court suggested the test is "whether one could reasonably foresee that the manufacturer, in seeking to avoid liability for the error, would choose to alter the product or the label." Id. at 747-48.

Sporicidin responds that these claims are merely failure to warn claims. In support, Sporicidin offersthe transcript of an open court ruling in a similar case, in which the court concluded that the negligent testing, design, and manufacture claims were indeed failure to warn claims. Lowes v. Sporicidin International, No. PJM 92-2855 (D.Md. 19 May 1994). This conclusion was based on the fact that "the only evidence that plaintiff has in this case . . . essentially is synonymous with failure to warn." The determination requires an examination of the relevant facts.

Dr. Robert I. Schattner, the president and sole shareholder of Sporicidin, designed and prepared manufacturing specifications for SCSS. It was produced by contract manufacturers, pursuant to specifications supplied by Sporicidin. Glutaraldehyde is an active ingredient in Sporicidin. Both the ACGIH and OSHA have established maximum permissible levels of exposure to glutaraldehyde. The maximum permissible exposure is .2ppm. (McLellan Affidavit).

Schattner claims to have done all testing required by the EPA prior to registering SCSS under FIFRA. In support, he produced all documents supplied to the EPA prior to registering SCSS. None of these documents reveal any tests to determine whether SCSS was capable of off-gassing toxic levels of glutaraldehyde into the working environment of individuals using SCSS. McLellan opines that testing of the product would have revealed that glutaraldehyde exposure in excess of .2ppm could occur in certain circumstances. The circumstances include room size, ventilation, the solution concentration of glutaraldehyde, and how the product is used. Exposure at this level is in excess of the maximum permissible exposure limits as defined by ACGIH and OSHA.

McLellan examined Helms and evaluated her exposure to glutaraldehyde from SCSS. McLellan concluded that Helms was exposed to levels of glutaraldehyde in excess of the maximum permissible exposure limits.

Schattner contends that the design of SCSS was within the limits of OSHA for safety. Using SCSS, however, required individuals such as Helms to dilute a 25% glutaraldehyde solution to create a 2% glutaraldehyde solution. Under these circumstances, SCSS did not necessarily fall within the OSHA .2ppm guidelines. McLellan concludes that Helms' exposure level would have been substantially less if SCSS had been supplied in a pre-diluted form.

Based on these facts, Helms concludes that Sporicidin negligently tested, designed, and manufactured SCSS. Helms specifically attacks Sporicidin's testing of SCSS. She also contends that the product should have been supplied in pre-diluted form. The evidence offered is obviously distinguishable from the situation in Lowe where "the only evidence . . . is . . . synonymous with a failure to warn." Id. To avoid liability based on Helms' evidence, "one could reasonably foresee that [Sporicidin] . . . would choose to alter the product . . .," instead of the labeling. Worm II, 5 F.3d at 747-48. These claims are not preempted. The motion for summary judgment should be denied on this issue.

To recover for personal injuries resulting from a manufacturer's negligence in North Carolina, the plaintiff must show that the product was defective when it left the plant. Sutton v. Major Products Co., 91 N.C.App. 610, 372 S.E.2d 897 (1988). The product is defective if the defendant failed to act as a reasonably prudent person in designing the product, selecting proper materials as components for the product, and in inspecting the product for hidden defects. Alexander v. Seaboard Air Line Railroad Company, 346 F. Supp. 320, 323 (1971). Although Helms has presented evidence that Sporicidin failed to test SCSS appropriately, the parties memoranda focused on the preemption issue. The court concludes that the claims of a defective product, as presented, are not preempted. This ruling, however, does not preclude the parties from addressing by further motion practice the sufficiency of these claims on the merits.

CONCLUSION

Helms has alleged claims based on theories of negligent testing, design, and manufacturing and failure to warn. The claims based on the failure to warn theory are preempted by the FIFRA. Worm II, 5 F.3d at 747. Helms' claims for defective testing, design, and manufacture are not preempted and should survive summary judgment. Id.

THIS MEMORANDUM AND RECOMMENDATION ENTERED, this 7th day of September, 1994.