Product Liability

2008
Case filed in Federal Court, Eastern District of Missouri
PRODUCT LIABILITY (RETRACTABLE DOG LEASH)

Client v. FLEXI USA, INC. (IMPORTER OF FOREIGN CORPORATIONS LEASH)

Plaintiff’s Attorney: Robert H. Pedroli, Jr. and Eric A. Ruttencutter

Type of Claim: Plaintiff was walking her dog using a three-eights inch nylon cord dog leash that extends sixteen feet, when her dog ran after a squirrel causing the leash to come out of her hands. When she grabbed for the leash as it was going through the underbrush, she grabbed the cord which became entangled in her fingers because the dog was running. This caused injuries to her fingers.

The defendant alleged that the plaintiff failed to use the leash properly and grabbed the cord when she knew the risks of rope cuts or burns that were warned of in the product literature which came with the product. Plaintiff asserted that the risk was foreseeable and the warning was inadequate and it was not put on the product itself.


Damages/Injuries Alleged: circumferential laceration of right index finger with nerve involvement and 4 cm laceration of ring finger and superficial laceration of middle finger. Medical bill approximately $20,000.00, which were not paid by the plaintiff. No lost wages. Plaintiff has area of numbness in her fingers.

SETTLEMENT$45,000.00.