Strohn v. Xcel Energy Inc.
Strohn v. Xcel Energy Inc.
Opinion of the Court
This matter is before the court upon the motion for partial dismissal by defendant Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota company (d/b/a Xcel Energy) (NSP). Based on a review of the file, record, and proceedings herein, and for the following reasons, the court grants the motion.
BACKGROUND
In June 2016, plaintiff Susan F. Strohn and her husband Steven C. Strohn purchased *831an electric range stove for their cabin in Le Sueur County, Minnesota from defendant Home Depot USA, Inc. Compl. ¶¶ 16, 18. In early July 2016, defendants Home Depot, XPO Logistics, Inc., a transportation and logistical services company, and/or Garan LLC, a trucking company, delivered the stove to the Strohn's cabin.
In August 2016, defendant Ploog Electric, Inc. installed an electrical outlet for the new stove next to the gas line. Id. ¶¶ 25-27. Ploog did not notice the allegedly uncapped gas line and failed to cap, seal, close, or otherwise neutralize the gas line. Id. ¶¶ 28, 29.
On May 20, 2017, a fire broke out in the cabin which severely burned Steven Strohn and his mother Joann L. Strohn. Id. ¶¶ 32-34. Both died from their injuries. Id. ¶ 34. The fire also caused significant damage to the cabin and its contents. Id. ¶ 35. Plaintiff alleges that the fire was caused by a natural gas leak from the uncapped gas line. Id. ¶ 36.
On June 29, 2018, Susan Strohn, individually, as special administrator of the estate of Steven C. Strohn, and as trustee for the next of kin of Steven C. Strohn, filed this suit alleging wrongful death (against all defendants), strict liability design defect (against NSP), strict liability manufacturing defect (against NSP), strict liability failure to warn (against NSP), strict liability post-sale failure to warn (against NSP), negligence (against all defendants), non-product liability failure to warn (against NSP), breach of express warranty (against NSP), and breach of implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose (against NSP). Plaintiff also raises a survival claim against all defendants on Steven Strohn's behalf based on, among other things, the severe mental and physical pain he experienced before he died on June 9, 2017, three weeks after the fire. NSP now moves to dismiss various improperly named entities, the survival claim, the strict liability claims, and the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose claim. Defendants Home Depot, XPO, and Garan join the motion with respect to the survival claim.
DISCUSSION
I. Standard of Review
To survive a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, " 'a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.' " Braden v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
*832Iqbal,
II. Proper Defendants
Plaintiff has named the following Northern States Power entities in this action: Xcel Energy, Inc., Northern States Power Company, Northern States Power Company-Minnesota, and Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin. NSP argues that it is the correct defendant and that the other entities are improperly named parties. Specifically, NSP represents that it is the "only entity that provided natural gas to Minnesota residents." NSP Supp. Mem at 5. NSP further explains that Xcel Energy is a holding company that does not provide natural gas services, Northern States Power-Wisconsin does not provide natural gas to Minnesota residents, and Northern States Power Company and Northern States Power Company-Minnesota are not actual corporate entities. Id.; see also Solheim Aff., ECF No. 57, ¶¶ 1-2. NSP asks the court to dismiss the improperly named entities and re-caption the case accordingly. Plaintiff requests the opportunity to engage in discovery before the court makes a determination.
The court is unpersuaded that discovery is necessary to resolve this issue. NSP has represented to the court that it is the proper defendant and that the other entities have no involvement in the underlying facts. On the strength of that representation, the court will dismiss Xcel Energy, Inc., Northern States Power Company, and Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin. Further, Northern States Power Company-Minnesota will be renamed Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota Corporation (d/b/a Xcel Energy). Should it later become clear that one of the dismissed entities was properly named in this action, the court will allow plaintiff to amend the pleadings and NSP will be subject to sanctions.
III. Survival Claim
NSP argues that the survival claim should be dismissed because Minnesota law expressly prohibits such claims. See
Plaintiff, while acknowledging that NSP is a Minnesota company and that the accident and injuries occurred in Minnesota, argues that Nebraska law should apply because Mr. and Mrs Strohn were Nebraska residents. Strohn Aff. ¶ 2. Plaintiff urges the court to undertake a choice of law analysis. NSP responds that plaintiff's place of residence is insufficient to raise a legitimate choice of law issue. The court disagrees. Plaintiff has properly raised the issue of which state's law applies and the court must undertake that analysis.
Federal courts sitting in diversity apply the forum state's conflict of laws *833rules. Minn. Mining & Mfg. Co. v. Kirkevold,
A. Predictability/Simplification of the Judicial Task
The court finds that the first and third factors do not favor the law of either state. The first factor, predictability of results, applies primarily to consensual transactions, and not to torts. Nesladek v. Ford Motor Co.,
B. Maintenance of the Interstate Order
The second factor addresses whether application of Minnesota law would manifest disrespect for the law of Nebraska based on a comparison of the relevant interests of each state.
Here, there are significant contacts between Minnesota and the underlying facts. NSP is a Minnesota company that provided the product at issue - natural gas - to a cabin in Minnesota. And the product allegedly caused significant personal injury and property damage in Minnesota. In contrast, Nebraska bears little relationship to the case, except that it was the Strohns' state of residence at the time of the accident. Therefore, this factor favors Minnesota law.
C. Advancement of State Interests
The fourth factor assures that Minnesota courts do not apply a rule of law that is inconsistent with the interests and concepts of fairness and equity of Minnesota. See Nodak,
D. Better Law
Minnesota courts do not apply the fifth factor unless all other factors are inconclusive. See Nodak,
IV. Strict Liability Claims
NSP next argues that the strict liability claims (design defect, manufacturing defect, failure to warn, and post-sale failure to warn) should be dismissed. NSP specifically argues that under well-established Minnesota law,
V. Implied Warranty of Fitness for a Particular Purpose Claim
NSP lastly argues that the court should dismiss the claim for breach of the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose because plaintiff has not alleged that the Strohns intended to use the gas for a particular purpose. The court agrees. The statute provides as follows:
Where the seller at the time of contracting has reason to know any particular purpose for which the goods are required and that the buyer is relying on the seller's skill or judgment to select or furnish suitable goods, there is unless excluded or modified under the next section an implied warranty that the goods shall be fit for such purpose.
Here, plaintiff has not alleged that the Strohns intended to use the gas for anything other than its ordinary purpose: fueling a gas stove. See Compl. ¶¶ 19-23. As a result, the court dismisses this claim as well.
The court denies plaintiff's request to amend the complaint. The claims dismissed are not tenable as a matter of law and even artful re-pleading will not change that fact. Plaintiff may proceed with the case on her several remaining claims against NSP and the other defendants.
*835CONCLUSION
Accordingly, based on the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. The motion for partial dismissal [ECF No. 29] is granted;
2. Xcel Energy Inc., Northern States Power Company, and Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin are dismissed from the case; and
3. Defendant Northern States Power Company-Minnesota shall be renamed Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota Corporation (d/b/a Xcel Energy).
It is unclear at this time which defendant delivered the electric stove.
The parties do not dispute, and the court is independently satisfied, that either state's law may be constitutionally applied. See Whitney v. Guys, Inc.,
There is no dispute that Minnesota law applies to the remaining claims at issue.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Susan F. STROHN, Individually, as Special Administrator of the Estate of Steven C. Strohn, and as Trustee for the Next of Kin of Steven C. Strohn, Decedent v. XCEL ENERGY INC., Northern States Power Company, Northern States Power Company-Minnesota, Northern States Power Company-Wisconsin, Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., XPO Logistics, Inc., Garan, LLC, and Ploog Electric, Inc.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published