Plaintiffs Michael and Christina Francisco claim while Michael was working at a construction site on Aug. 11, 2016, he was cutting pipes with a Hilti power tool. According to their filed complaint with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, “As Mr. Francisco attempted to use the subject product, its defective and unreasonably dangerous condition resulted in the subject product experiencing a sudden and uncontrollable ‘kick-back’ which, in turn, caused the rotating saw blade to strike Mr. Francisco in the face and neck region.”
As a result, alleges the suit, “Mr. Francisco sustained catastrophic, disfiguring, and permanent injuries to his face and head, including but not limited to severe and disabling injuries to the skin, bone, muscles, flesh, nerves, tendons, blood vessels and other tissues in his face.”
The Franciscos allege that Hilti is liable for damages because the tool “was defective and unreasonably dangerous to the ultimate users and operators, including Mr. Francisco.”
Thomas Sheridan, an attorney with Philadelphia law firm Sheridan and Murray who specializes in personal injury law, provided some insight on design defect claims such as this.
Source: Pennsylvania Record
