Product Defect Claims

Motorcycle Manufactured in China With Throttle Defect
A line of motorcycles manufactured in China and sold through a United States distributor led to a wreck causing a severe shoulder injury and fractured arm. The cause of the accident was a designed defect in the throttle cable assembly causing the throttle to stick in certain situations. Our client was thrown from the motorcycle, receiving severe injuries. A lawsuit was brought against the Chinese Corporation and the American distributor. A verdict was entered against the Chinese corporation in the amount of $200,000.

Pizza Dough Roller Malfunctions
A young girl working at an area convenience store crushed her hand while cleaning a pizza dough-rolling machine. A lawsuit was filed against the manufacturer of the equipment because of the defective design in failing to provide appropriate shutoff switches which would not allow the machine to engage while certain guards had been removed. The manufacturer initially disputed liability, but the claim was resolved prior to trial. Confidential settlement.

Failure of Airbag to Deploy
A individual operating an American made vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with an immovable object at a significant speed. The airbag failed to deploy causing our client to sustain multiple facial fractures and a substantial head injury. A confidential settlement was obtained from the automobile manufacturer.

Tire Defect Causes Death
A lawsuit was filed against a tire company for a defect in the manufacturing process which led to tread separation during the operation of a commercial vehicle. The driver of that vehicle lost control of the truck and was killed when the truck rolled over on top of him, following a blowout of the defective tire. We represented the family of the young man whose life was cut short in this accident. $700,000 settlement.

Farmer Loses Arm in Tractor Accident
A farmer hired our firm to pursue a tractor manufacturer for a defective PTO shaft which caused the amputation of his left arm when the farmer's shirtsleeve was caught in an exposed area of the PTO shaft. Substantial investigation was done by numerous experts retained by our firm to determine an alternative design could have prevented this accident. The manufacturer of the tractor settled this matter in mediation prior to trial. Confidential settlement.

Six-Year Old's Nightgown Catches on Fire, Causing Severe Burns
A six-year-old was wearing a nightgown which came in contact with her parents space heater, igniting the nightgown and causing second to third degree burns. The suit was against the garment manufacturer and the retailer. A confidential settlement was reached prior to trial.

Deer Stand Failure Causes Severe Back Injuries
A deer hunter placed a tree stand in a tree on his property for the purpose of bow hunting. While positioning himself on the tree stand, and before his safety harness was connected, the tree stand failed, causing the deer hunter to fall 20 feet with resulting back injuries, requiring lumbar surgery. A settlement was reached with the deer stand manufacturer prior to trial in the amount of $280,000.

Trailer Without Safety Chains Becomes Detached, Causing Head-On Collision
A high school counselor driving home from work was struck head-on when a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck became detached from the truck because the ball assembly failed. The trailer had no safety chains. Metal from the trailer caused a severing of the school counselor's seatbelt, resulting in her ejectment onto the pavement. She sustained a scalping head injury with resulting mild to moderate brain damage, causing her to retire early from school counseling. Settlement with the driver of the pickup truck and the school counselor's underinsured motorist carrier for policy limits. Settlement with seatbelt manufacturer and trailer manufacturer before trial was confidential.

Summer Worker for Roofing Company Severely Burned in Collision with Uninsured Motorist
A young college man working a summer job is a passenger in a lumber truck when an uninsured motorist crosses over the centerline and strikes the truck in an area around the exterior gas tank. An explosion and fire occur and the young college man is severely burned over 60% of his body. We are pursuing the manufacturer of the truck for a defect in the design of the placement of the gas tank. This case is pending.

Six-Year-Old Boy Sustains Massive Burns from Drug Reaction
A six-year-old boy is prescribed medication for an alleged seizure condition and has an allergic reaction to the medication, causing him to develop second and third degree burns throughout much of his body. This case is pending.

Drug Reaction Causes 37-Year-Old Woman to Suffer Kidney Failure and Death
Woman in her 30's having her third child has a seizure. She is placed on anti-seizure medication which results in an allergic reaction, causing organ failure. She is hospitalized and treated, but her kidney failure does not recover. She is on dialysis for years and ultimately dies from a complication related to the dialysis. Her death claim is being brought by her surviving husband and children. This case is pending.