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Cabinetmaker's hand crushed by finishing machine - Defendant claims plaintiff lacked adequate training
$540,000 settlement
The plaintiff cabinet maker was cleaning rollers on a finishing machine when his hand was pulled into the rollers, became entrapped and crushed.
A lawsuit was filed against the manufacturer.
The plaintiff's expert opined that the accident occurred because an interlock actuator was not fixed in position, allowing the machine to operate with the cover raised and the rollers moving in close proximity.
The plaintiff suffered a complex crushing injury to his left hand, including an open proximal phalanx fracture of the left long finger; avulsion of the EPL tendon from the left thumb; open dislocation of the IP joint of the left thumb; digital artery injury to the thumb, long finger, and ring finger; as well as a complex degloving injury of the hand and thumb. He underwent five surgeries and suffered permanent partial loss of function of his hand. He was, however, able to return to work for his employer 18 months post-accident.
A vocational expert was expected to testify that the plaintiff could not return to his former position due to his permanent limitations and that his opportunities for promotion were limited.
The matter was mediated before James V. Ryan. The defendant denied liability and raised issues of comparative negligence of the plaintiff and lack of adequate training by his employer. The plaintiff's wife brought a claim for loss of consortium.
The defendant paid $540,000.
Action: Products liability
Injuries alleged: Complex crushing injury to hand
Case name: Withheld
Court/case no.: Withheld
Jury and/or judge: N/A (mediated)
Name of mediator: James V. Ryan
Special damages: $210,000
Amount of settlement: $540,000
Attorneys: Martin Kantrovitz and Paul R. Thebaud, Boston (for the plaintiff)