Case Result

2000. Ron AND Lucy Smith V. Ingersoll-Rand Co., Inc.

Ron and Lucy Smith filed this product liability case in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico involving a milling machine manufactured and placed in the stream of commerce by Ingersoll-Rand Co. Inc. The case went to trial in 1997 and was appealed. Ron Smith was severely injured when the right front wheel on an Ingersoll-Rand milling machine, which weighed twenty tons, ran over and trapped his foot. As a result, Ron sustained a “degloving” injury to his leg resulting in eleven surgeries, including the subsequent above the knee amputation of his leg. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Ron and Lucy Smith in the amount of $22 million, including punitive damages. The verdict was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit. See Ron Smith and Lucy Smith v. Ingersoll-Rand, 214 F. 3d 1235 (2000). 2000.