Defective Products

• Parker v. Hyundai Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor USA - settlement (terms of settlement are confidential) against the manufacturer and U.S. distributor of a 2003 Hyundai Santa Fe for catastrophic injuries received in a rollover and roof collapse case. Injuries included C5 Incomplete Quadriplegia and mild traumatic brain injury. Case was filed in Charlottesville, Virginia. Co-counsel on the case was Tab Turner of Little Rock, Arkansas. (2007)

• $850,000 - $850,000 verdict in Roanoke against manufacturer of welding torch. A worker on a ladder was using a torch to cut duct work when he was struck by equipment and fell. His torch fell beside him and set his clothing on fire, causing severe burns. (2000)

• $650,000 - $650,000 settlement against manufacturer of circuit breaker used in mines. Case was filed in Wise County, Virginia. (1999)

• $575,000 - $575,000 confidential settlement for loss of vision in one eye due to defective design and manufacture of a compound bow. Case was filed in southwest Virginia. (2000)

• $5 million - $5 million verdict against the seller of an industrial circuit breaker which short-circuited and exploded. A circuit breaker in a pier at Norfolk Navy Base exploded during re-installation of the breaker after removal for pier renovations and circuit breaker modification. Our client suffered burns on his upper body. The $5 million verdict in Norfolk Circuit Court was upheld on appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court.

• $4 million - $4 million verdict against manufacturer of extremely flammable contact adhesive being applied to the inside of a metal tank. Vapors from the adhesive ignited when they were drawn through an exhaust fan in the back of the room. The fire flashed back to the tank and burned our client who was inside the tank applying the contact adhesive. (1993)

• $1.1 million - $1.1 million settlement against manufacturer of tools for use on power lines. A lineman was installing lighting arresters on power lines outside Roanoke, Virginia, when he hung a hand tool on one of the lines while he repositioned himself on the pole. The hand tool had insulated handles. A defect in the insulation allowed electrical current to pass through the insulated handle and into the lineman's body, causing severe wounds to his right arm and left thigh. Case was filed in federal court in Roanoke, Virginia, claiming negligent manufacturing and failure to warn. (1995)

• $1 million - $1 million settlement against manufacturer of extruder head for manufacturing defect. An extruder was used to apply a waterproof coating to paper in a factory. Due to a manufacturing defect, when pressure built up inside the extruder the pressure relief system failed to operate, causing the extruder head to explode. Part of the extruder head struck our client in the head, resulting in brain injury. (1994)

• Confidential settlement against manufacturer and retailer of flammable adhesive, tire patch kit and seller of cigarette lighter to 11 year old child. Our client was attempting to heat the tire patch before putting it on his bicycle tire. Vapor from glue on the boy's hands and shirt caught fire, setting his shirt on fire. Case was filed in Roanoke, Virginia. (2000)