Recalls and Class Action Verdicts: Anonymous v. Anonymous

Anonymous v. Anonymous

October 14, 2003

RESULT: $ 3,750,000 settlement, consisting of $ 3,000,000 to surviving spouse, $ 750,000 to surviving children.

STATE: California

SUMMARY: The decedent, age 32, on active duty with the U.S. Navy, was replacing the rear axle of his pickup truck in the drive-way of his home. While he was working underneath, the vehicle was supported by a pair of three-legged jack stands manufactured by defendant. These jack stands had a rated capacity of 4,000 pounds and the weight of the section of the vehicle resting on the jack stands was approximately 2,000 pounds. Nevertheless, one of the legs on the jack stands supporting the passenger's side of the vehicle buckled, causing the vehicle to collapse on the decedent, resulting in death by asphyxiation. His body was found by his spouse. These same jack stands had been the subject of earlier recall campaign because of prior complaints of legs buckling in a similar fashion. The jack stands involved in the incident were manufactured after the recall, however, and only minimal changes had been made to the design.

Plaintiffs contended that the metal used in the jack stand was too thin to support its rated weight, that it was designed without proper testing by non-engineers, and was inherently unstable.

Defendants contended that the vehicle slipped off the jack stand because it had not been located properly under the frame, and that independent product testing proved that it was sufficiently strong to support its rated capacity.

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