Family of City Worker Killed In Mower Accident Settles Lawsuit

A confidential last-minute settlement has been reached in the lawsuit brought by the family of a city Parks Department employee who was killed in 2003 by a runaway lawnmower, reports the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, Mass.

Industrial and agricultural accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. One of the leading causes, however, is a manufacturing or design defect that makes heavy machinery dangerous to users. You should be able to trust that the product you are using is safe and that you have been given proper warning of any risks the product poses.  At Munley Law we understand the complexity of product liability laws and the challenge of proving a case, and we can help you get the compensation you deserve.

The 54-year-old man died from injuries he sustained when he was run over by a 6,000 lb. large capacity mower as it rolled down a hill.  The man had stopped the mower and shut off the engine before the mower started to roll – he was run over as he tried to halt the machine.

His widow filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Textron, Inc. which owns the Jacobsen Company, manufacturer of the mower.  The lawsuit accused Textron of selling an unsafe and defective product and of breaching its implied warranty of merchantability.  The lawsuit contends the accident was caused by a defective parking brake in which the cable corroded and broke because the vinyl coating did not cover the entire length.

Textron denied any negligence and claimed the mower had not been properly maintained.

The Scranton, Pennsylvania attorneys of Munley Law have years of experience representing the survivors of wrongful death victims.   If you believe you have been harmed by defective industrial or agricultural machinery, contact us for a free consultation of your legal claim throughout the state of Pennsylvania.  You can submit an online form or call us.