Category: Defective Products

A construction worker who was severely injured when a nail from a nail gun became embedded in his head was awarded $3.4 million from a Hartford, Connecticut jury.

Jerry Crutchfield, 51, of Hartford had sued toolmaker Stanley Works and Home Depot, which sold the nail gun, claiming they were partly liable for the injuries he sustained Feb. 3, 2003.

The jury stated that Crutchfield was 55% liable for his injuries because he was the one to fire the nail gun into metal instead of a wood surface. This action caused the nail to backfire at him. But nevertheless, the jury ordered Stanley Works and Home Depot to pay $3.4 million for their percentage of the liability. The two companies have not decided if they will appeal the verdict yet.

The assistant general counsel for Stanley disagrees with the verdict. He stated that the nail gun met industry standards and is used every day without injuries. Also, the case for the nail gun warns consumers to follow all instructions.

Crutchfield was doing carpentry in a church when the incident occurred. The 3 in. nail went through his cheek and into his brain, which has partially paralyzed him and causes him to have seizures.

Spin Master Toys of Toronto, Canada in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for over 4 million packages of Aqua Dots because the coating applied on these toy beads breaks down in the stomachs of toddlers into GHB, the notorious ‘date-rape’ drug.

Approximately 200 people have filed lawsuits against Home Depot and the manufacturer of Stand ‘n Seal grout sealer after falling ill from using Stand ‘n Seal. People are complaining of severe breathing problems after using the grout sealer, including chemical pneumonia. One man, Dr. Walter Friedel, said he became so ill he was in the intensive care unit for 4 days and was on oxygen for 4 months. He still has difficulty walking up flights of stairs and hills.

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