Cuyahoga County Jury Rules In Favor of KNR Client For Injuries Sustained At Well-Known Cleveland Corporation

Cleveland, OH, September 25, 2015 – A Cuyahoga County jury ruled in favor of a Kisling, Nestico & Redick client this week for injuries the man sustained while operating equipment at a truck manufacturing company located in Wooster, OH. The verdict was entered in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas against The Scott Fetzer Company (Scott Fetzer).

Scott Fetzer, most well-known for being the company behind the production of the first Kirby vacuum, was ordered to pay an undisclosed amount in damages after the man crushed three fingers on his left hand while operating a press brake at Scott Fetzer’s subsidiary, Stahl/Scott Fetzer Company (Stahl).

KNR’s client worked at Stahl for one month as a laser operator before being asked to operate a 40-yearold press brake that was missing point-of-operation protection guards. The man received approximately 25 minutes of training and was asked to bend three-inch pieces of metal by hand feeding them into a press brake, a violation of regulations and standards set by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). After bending 200 pieces of metal, the man inadvertently placed his fingers in the point-of-operation resulting in the amputation of three fingers.

KNR attorneys Michael Maillis, Jim Salamone and Chris VanBlargan tried the case proving Scott Fetzer assumed control over Stahl’s access safety and unilaterally decided against a safety audit on Stahl’s press brakes.

“Scott Fetzer was well aware of the danger posed to employees by their press brakes because of their prior loss experience and repeated recommendations by its insurance company—which Scott Fetzer chose to ignore due to cost,” says KNR attorney Chris VanBlargan. The jury concluded that while Stahl bore some responsibility for the injuries, Fetzer was primarily at-fault.

If you would like more information about this topic or if someone you know could be the victim of an auto accident, please contact Kisling, Nestico & Redick at 1-800-HURT-NOW or visit www.knrlegal.com