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Vendor Crushed by Seattle Jail Door Receives $43,525 for Injuries
Washington State’s King County Jail in Seattle has paid $43,525 to settle a claim brought by a man delivering frozen food to the Jail.
While making his delivery on November 7, 2002, David Huntington was crushed by a heavy metal door operated remotely and from inside the building housing the Jail.
Apparently, the employee operating the door failed to note Huntington, the large pallet he was delivering or the county-owned pallet jack he was using.
When he was crushed by the door against the pallet jack, Huntington “suffered severe and permanent lacerations and nerve injuries to his left hand, as well as crush-related injuries to his abdomen, right thight, left calf, left Achilles tendon and left ankle.” As a result of these injuries, Huntington incurred medical costs, loss of work, a 10% impairment in his left upper extremity and loss of consortium with his wife.
He alleged that King County employees were aware that he was using the pallet jack and they had raised the hydraulic loading ramp to meet the level of his truck on the loading dock. Still, they negligently closed the door on him. Additionally, he claimed the loading dock was of “insufficient size and length, and too steep, to allow safe loading and unloading.” It was further alleged there were insufficient and improperly situated warning devices to warn vendors of impending door closure.
On February 7, 2007, Huntington accepted $42,500 to settle his claim. He also received $1,025 as reimbursement for the mediation fees. Huntington was represented by Everett attorney Bradford J. Fulton. The documents relevant to the case are available on PLN’s website. See: Huntington v. King County, King County Superior Court, Case No: 05-2-35582-4.
While making his delivery on November 7, 2002, David Huntington was crushed by a heavy metal door operated remotely and from inside the building housing the Jail.
Apparently, the employee operating the door failed to note Huntington, the large pallet he was delivering or the county-owned pallet jack he was using.
When he was crushed by the door against the pallet jack, Huntington “suffered severe and permanent lacerations and nerve injuries to his left hand, as well as crush-related injuries to his abdomen, right thight, left calf, left Achilles tendon and left ankle.” As a result of these injuries, Huntington incurred medical costs, loss of work, a 10% impairment in his left upper extremity and loss of consortium with his wife.
He alleged that King County employees were aware that he was using the pallet jack and they had raised the hydraulic loading ramp to meet the level of his truck on the loading dock. Still, they negligently closed the door on him. Additionally, he claimed the loading dock was of “insufficient size and length, and too steep, to allow safe loading and unloading.” It was further alleged there were insufficient and improperly situated warning devices to warn vendors of impending door closure.
On February 7, 2007, Huntington accepted $42,500 to settle his claim. He also received $1,025 as reimbursement for the mediation fees. Huntington was represented by Everett attorney Bradford J. Fulton. The documents relevant to the case are available on PLN’s website. See: Huntington v. King County, King County Superior Court, Case No: 05-2-35582-4.
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Related legal case
Huntington v. King County
| Year | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Cite | King County Superior Court, Case No: 05-2-35582-4 |
| Level | State Trial Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 43,525.00 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |