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Case Summaries

Defective Product: Hydraulic Jack Crushes Victim Under Car

On August 21, 2006, an air powered hydraulic jack failed on the car Shane Lyle was under, allowing the car to fall on top on Shane, crushing him and killing him.

The Magnum Air powered hydraulic jack was designed, manufactured, marketed, distributed and placed into the stream of commerce by the defendant, Homier Distributing Company, Inc. Wigington Rumley Dunn & Blair LLP filed a suit contending the jack was defective in design and unreasonably dangerous, specifically a defective lock mechanism, which was a producing cause of the injuries and death of Shane Lyle, the physical pain and mental anguish he suffered, and of the damages suffered by the plaintiffs.

Mr. Lyle’s estate sought to recover damages for his mental anguish, physical pain and necessary funeral bills and expenses. His wife, Gayle J. Lyle sought to recover damages including pecuniary damages, mental anguish, loss of companionship, loss of consortium and hedonic damages. This case settled for a confidential sum.