Tag: Product Liability
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Design Defect Theories Employed by Mechanical Engineering Expert Witness Deemed Unreliable
On August 23, 2021, Plaintiff Virginia Huss used a Ninja BL660 blender, designed and manufactured by Defendant SharkNinja Operating LLC, to blend a mixture of chocolate chips that she had microwaved for 60 to 90 seconds. After blending, Huss attempted to twist open the blender lid and the lid shot off the blender cup, causing…
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Accident Reconstruction Expert Witness’ Testimony Admitted Despite His Failure to Calculate G-Force
On October 24, 2019, William Harrison Sims (Plaintiff) was driving his 2004 BMW 330Ci (the “Vehicle”) in Florida when another vehicle unexpectedly turned left in front of him, causing a minor accident. As a result of the collision, the Vehicle’s front driver-side airbag was signaled to deploy. However, the airbag inflator unexpectedly ruptured and shot…
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Legal Ethics Expert Witness’ Opinions Regarding a Conflict of Interest on Coverage Admitted
Plaintiff, Ansur America Insurance Company, sued Defendants, James A. Borland and Quinn, Johnston, Henderson & Pretorious, Chtd., an experienced defense lawyer and his law firm, for alleged legal malpractice in handling a complex product liability case in St. Clair County, Illinois. Plaintiff alleged that Defendants failed to meet the standard of care in representing Plaintiff…
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Materials Science and Orthopedic Surgery Experts analyze Hip Implant Failure
Pamela Ahmed has a history of back problems dating back to a traffic accident in approximately 1988. By 2020, Ahmed had a litany of “bad orthopedic issues,” leading her doctor to deem her an “orthopedic disaster.” She began to experience significant hip arthritis, and her doctor diagnosed her with end-stage osteoarthritis. Ahmed underwent a right…
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Testimony of Mechanical Engineering Expert Witness Rejected, Complaint Dismissed
Plaintiff Nathan Cottrill (“Plaintiff” or “Cottrill”) filed a lawsuit against Defendant Tricam Industries, Inc. (“Defendant” or “Tricam”), alleging product liability and breach of implied warranty. Nathan Cottrill, a Best Buy Geek Squad employee, went to a client’s house on December 22, 2019, to mount two Sonos 5 speakers in an indoor basketball court. To carry…
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Court excludes unreliable pharmacology and neurology expert opinions in product liability case; grants summary judgment
In a lawsuit against Vitamin Shoppe, a man alleged its vitamin supplements containing arsenic and lead caused his peripheral neuropathy. He relied on his treating neurologist and a pharmacist to provide expert opinions on causation. The court excluded both experts, finding their methodologies failed to reliably account for the dosage of toxins consumed. Without admissible…
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Multiple expert challenges in case involving recreational vehicle explosion leading to critical injuries
The plaintiffs challenged the defense experts on multiple fronts. They moved to preclude certain testimony of James J. Keough, Jr. regarding the RV design and accident, arguing his opinions lacked sufficient basis and methodology. But the court found Keough relied on extensive materials and technical experience, applying a reliable methodology. It emphasized vigorous cross-examination, not…
