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  • Confidential Settlement for Worker in Meat Press Machine Accident

    Case Summary:

    Our client was a 52-year-old worker in a meat processing plant who was operating a bacon press machine.  On the date of the accident, a buildup of meat became lodged in the hopper of the press.  Our client depressed the reset button on the machine in order to hold the compression plates on the press in the open position and reached inside the machine to clear the jam.  While his hand was inside the machine, our client’s finger slipped off the reset button and the compression plates closed on his right, dominant arm, causing multiple fractures.

    The meat processing machine, designed and installed by the defendant was originally outfitted with an interlocking plexiglass lid that would automatically stay locked in place when the compression plates closed and the machine was processing.  Our clients’ employer requested a redesign that included an automatic conveyor belt that would feed the bacon into the compressor.  The plexiglass lid was removed by defendant and replaced with an open hopper as part of the redesign. The processor was defective as it was redesigned and installed because the automatic conveyor was never installed, and, therefore, the operators had to continue using the processor in manual mode without the interlocking safety lid.

    Our client suffered comminuted, angulated fractures to his ulna and radius bones and a comminuted fracture to his distal bone of his right arm and has permanent loss of fine dexterity and permanently reduced grip strength in his right hand as a result of the accident.

    Outcome:

    This case settled before trial for a confidential amount.  The case was handled by Philadelphia products liability attorney, Richard M. Jurewicz, of Galfand Berger. For more information on this case, please contact Mr. Jurewicz at [email protected] or call the law firm at 1-800-222-USWA (8792).