Man Wins Big Money in Tablesaw Lawsuit

[Rutabagared]

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[CharlesWilson]

I smell an appeal in the making.

 

[justinmcf]

very interesting. this could be the straw that breaks the camels back.

i can only hope that the sawstop invention becomes mandatory in every new table that is manufactured.
i think it will be a few years before we see this happen.
but this is a positive move forward.

regards, justin.

 

[EcoFurniture]

there goes my dream of getting a cms....

But if this will become mandatory, will a business have to replace their saws to be further covered by the insurance companies? Scary thought! That could kill many businesses...

 

[JimRay]

Wonderful, another setback for personal responsibility.

I bet that there isn't a chance in the world that the injured party would have selected anything but a saw with "flesh-detecting technology" built-in, no matter what the cost, had it been available. Of course, the fact that he was injured while using a Ryobi saw isn't really an indication that he was shopping price rather than features. Nope. That guy was surely looking for only the best.

Jim Ray

 

[Inner10]

This is ridiculous, maby we should have a licence system that only allows people who arn't complete morons to buy saws.

>

Sorry I didnt realize that was offensive, I have washed me mouth out with soap will clean it up a bit.

To reiterate I sarcastically made fun of this by saying soon helmets will be necessary for pleasuring yourself due to the risk of of your closed fist comming in contact with your forehead.

This reminds me of the lawsuit between Mcdonalds and the woman who burnt herself by spilling coffee on her lap.

 

[mouppe]

If this lawsuit is not thrown out, table saws are going to cost an arm and a leg!

 

[bruegf]

This should have been thrown out to start with, but I sure hope it is reversed on appeal.  That said, I just bought a sawstop.  Figured the cost of the saw was cheap compared to one trip to the ER.

But it should be my choice whether I want to pay for that technology.

Too bad I can't use the darn thing yet - I don't have enough power in my basement shop to run the thing and the vac at the same time :-(

Fred

 

[jeffinsgf]

I wonder who the "expert" on flesh sensing technology was.....

 

[AdamM]

This reminds me of the lawsuit between Mcdonalds and the woman who burnt herself by spilling coffee on her lap.

There was a time when made fun of this lawsuit as well.  Then I learned the real story...McDonalds was setting their coffee pot temperature at 180-190 degrees F, which was so hot that it would cause 3rd degree burns in 12-15 seconds.  Coffee really only needs to be around 140 degrees F.  McDonalds argument was that customers wanted to take it back to the office, however that contradicted McDonalds own research indicating customers intended to drink it while driving.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restaurants

 

[PeterK]

I urge all of you to read the wikipedia link that AdamM posted. This was an elderly lady who was very seriously injured and only asked for medical bill payment of $20,000. The pictures of the damage done to her upper legs was astounding. Very poorly handled by McDonalds at the time. So many make fun of the McDonald's coffee incident but know nothing about it.

 

[AlexThePalex]

This is crazy. Next time I cut myself on a piece of glass I'm gonna sue the glass manufacturer for not having flesh sensory technology. I could do with a cool mil and a half too.

Oh wait ........ I live in Europe. A suit like this would be laughed out of court. Bugger. No mil and a half.  [sad]

But at least they respect me as somebody with brains enough to be responsible all by myself.  [smile]

 

[waynew]

Not necessarily referring to this current case but i just can't for the life of me grasp the mentality of individuals who resolve themselves of all responsibility, prefering to sue a tablesaw manufacturer for something they did to themselves.
I guess they suffer from a severe case of the nanny state flu, whereby they claim no responsibility for their own actions preferring to shift that on to others. What a pathetic situation, where does it all stop.

 

[JimRay]

I urge all of you to read the wikipedia link that AdamM posted. This was an elderly lady who was very seriously injured and only asked for medical bill payment of $20,000. The pictures of the damage done to her upper legs was astounding. Very poorly handled by McDonalds at the time. So many make fun of the McDonald's coffee incident but know nothing about it.

The fact that the woman placed the coffee cup between her legs had absolutely nothing to do with the injury she sustained, I presume. Once again, personal responsibility is trumped in the courtroom!

Jim Ray

 

[justinmcf]

wow!

i am amazed at how many people are standing up for the company here.
i am for the little man 100 percent!

ryobi had their chance to embrace this technology, but they and others turned their backs on it because of profit margins.
i agree that the inventor went about it the wrong way. i believe he tried to push this technology down other manufacturers throats.

but, i want this technology in every saw now, not in ten or 20 years time.

maybe i'm just crazy.........

regards, justin.

 

[JimRay]

but, i want this technology in every saw now, not in ten or 20 years time.

maybe i'm just crazy.........

regards, justin.

I just want people to have the opportunity to purchase the technology. And of course, a free market economy has now made that possible, and I hope that SawStop will be incredibly sucessful. But I don't agree with their attempt to force manufacturers and the woodworking public to embrace the technology. Forcing people to buy something doesn't make sense to me. Of course, I understand that we probably still wouldn't have seat belts if Congress hadn't mandated them back in the 60's. For the life of me, I can not understand why large companies don't see the value in making a safer product on their own, without getting the government involved. SawStop definitely has the right idea - build a better product, and let the marketplace decide.

I wonder what their product liability insurance cost must be on each saw they sell? Bet it's more that it would be if their's was just a standard table saw.

Jim Ray

 

[AlexThePalex]

i am amazed at how many people are standing up for the company here.
i am for the little man 100 percent!

This is not about the big company vs the little man Justin. It is a mistake to look at it like that.

This is about a general principle where people are responsible for their own actions, and not somebody else.

 

[stvrowe]

wow!

i am amazed at how many people are standing up for the company here.
i am for the little man 100 percent!

ryobi had their chance to embrace this technology, but they and others turned their backs on it because of profit margins.
i agree that the inventor went about it the wrong way. i believe he tried to push this technology down other manufacturers throats.

but, i want this technology in every saw now, not in ten or 20 years time.

maybe i'm just crazy.........

regards, justin.

I think it is great technology as well and would like to see it (or some other technology) on saws as well.  With respect to your surprise, I suggest the following considerations.  The little man had a choice of which saw and technology to purchase.  The little man had a choice to use or not to use the guard and splitter.  The little man chose to purchase a saw which was most likely based on a little price.  The little man got injured because of his own actions and choices.  Perhaps that is why many are falling on the side of the company in lieu of the "little man". 

 

[VictorL]

This is a precedent. In this case lawyers can claim compensation for ANY injuries  with ANY power tool included, but not limited:
Miter saws
Chain saws
Jig saws
band saws
routers
planers
shapers
sanders
drills
nail guns
grinders
lathes
shears
etc.
Could you imagine adding "flesh sensing" modules to the tools listed above?
Leave alone price tag. But where is common sense? 
Nobody is trying to sue ski resorts; you are at your own risk.  Why ladders don't have body catching devices?
I injured my left hand with chisel, should I sue Stanley?

Stay safe.
VictorL

 

[Corwin]

... But where is common sense?  ...

We are talking about our legal system here, aren't we?  And a case decided by a pool of jurors?  The defendant didn't stand a chance...