Defective Product Verdicts: Stiff v. White Storage

STIFF vs. WHITE STORAGE

October 15, 1998

RESULT: $ 800,000.00 jury verdict which, together with pre-judgment interest, amounted to $ 903,000.00.

STATE: New Jersey

SUMMARY: On January 10, 1996, Alyssa Stiff was employed by St. Barnabus Medical Center as a clerk in the pathology department. She was injured while retrieving slides from two 6 foot rotating carousels, which were operated by means by computer controls or a foot pedal. The machines were manufactured by defendant White and sold to Advanced Office Systems, White's distributor, in 1993.

The machines were thereafter sold by Advanced to St. Barnabus Medical Center, where they were thereafter serviced by defendant White.

The plaintiff alleged that the defendant was negligent in the manufacturing, sale and service of the machines. There was an absence of any safety controls. The manner of installation of the carousels created dangerous pinch points between enclosing walls and drawers in their open position, it was alleged. The defendant was aware of the danger caused by these pinch points at the time of installation as well as during the time of White's service to the machines. Three accidents involving the pinch points had occurred in 1994 and 1995, prior to the plaintiff's accident.

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