Product Defect: Defense Side

Investigation of Strap/Buckle Design

Plaintiff claimed he was injured when a roof strap that was securing surfboards to the roof of a 4 door pickup truck broke and the strap’s metal buckle struck him in the head.  He was suing the strap manufacturer/distributor.

Our expert determined through engineering analysis, calculations, and testing that the incident could not have occurred in the manner in which it was described by plaintiff, and that the plaintiff’s proposed “safer alternative design” was not safer.

Each of the opposing experts opinions were successfully rebutted through sound engineering principles and methods.  Based upon liability, the defense prevailed at binding arbitration, with zero award for plaintiff.