District Judge Jeffry Larson to sit with Kansas Supreme Court January 31

TOPEKA—District Judge Jeffry Larson of the 5th Judicial District has been appointed to sit with the Kansas Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in one case on the court's January 31 docket.

After hearing oral arguments, Larson will join Supreme Court justices in their deliberations and decision drafting.

“I am pleased that Judge Larson is taking time from his duties in the 5th Judicial District to sit with the Supreme Court,” said Chief Justice Lawton Nuss. “It's a great help to our court, and we look forward to his contributions in deliberating and eventually deciding this case.”

Larson, an Emporia native, graduated from Emporia State University and Washburn University School of Law. He was in private practice in Emporia for 20 years before being appointed to the bench in January 2007. He hears cases in the 5th Judicial District, which is composed of Lyon and Chase counties.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to sit with Kansas Supreme Court. It is both a privilege and an honor to do so, and I look forward to the challenge,” Larson said.

All Supreme Court oral arguments are webcast live through the Watch Supreme Court Live! link in the right-hand column of the Kansas Judicial Branch website at www.kscourts.org.

The case Larson will hear is the first one scheduled on the Supreme Court's 9 a.m. docket January 31:

Appeal No. 116,307: Corvias Military Living LLC and Corvias Military Construction v. Ventamatic LTD and Jakel Inc.

Geary County: (Petition for Review) A military housing developer filed a product liability action against the manufacturer of a bathroom ceiling fan and its electric motor. The product at issue caused two house fires at the family housing neighborhood at Fort Riley. The Corvias entities filed their initial petition against Ventamatic, the manufacturer of the defective bathroom fans, and Jakel, the manufacturer of the defective fan motors, and various other parties in the chain of distribution. Corvias sought to dismiss all defendants except Ventamatic and Jakel. The district court granted Ventamatic and Jakel summary judgment as to all claims finding the economic loss doctrine barred recovery. The district court found the bathroom exhaust fans and housing units were integrated systems and that Corvias could not also recover under an implied warranty theory because bathroom exhaust fans are not inherently dangerous. The Court of Appeals reversed the district court and instead held the bathroom exhaust fans and housing units are not part of an integrated system. Issues on review are whether: 1) the district court erred when it held Corvias suffered only economic loss; 2) the district court erred when it held bathroom ceiling fans are not inherently dangerous if defectively manufactured; and 3) the Court of Appeal erred in overturning the district court's granting of summary judge by altering Kansas law on the economic loss doctrine and the integrated systems rule.