Youngster Washing Down Horse is Electrocuted in New Lenox

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Injury - Property Defect-Animals

7/12/2010
Steve Lombardi
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Youngster Washing Down Horse is Electrocuted in New Lenox

Here is a little known fact that makes a big difference in any product liability case: If you don't preserve the product there is no way of proving the product is defective. You can bet the manufacturers are aware of that fact.

This news story comes out of New Lenox, Illinois and is of a boy's death by electrocution from a fan being used in a horse barn. He's 11-years-old and is described as washing a horse in a barn. The news report says he turned on a fan that short-circuited which then killed him by electrocution. The report is that the autopsy confirmed he died of electrocution.

It's too bad there is no discussion of the age of the fan, the make, the model and whether there were any recalls involved with this fan. Why his death is ruled an "accident" when so little is known about the cause of the short-circuiting fan is puzzling? Perhaps more is known, but not reported. It's difficult to say from the story with few facts being published. The public might be interested in knowig this information so they might check fans they own to make sure they don't end up in a similar situation.

A quick search of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission site for "fans" provides a long list of recall notices. Voluntary standards for portable fans were last updated on July 9, 2007.

See Final Report on Portable Electric Fans - Fires (PDF), May 28, 2002 - Here is a quote from that report: "An estimated 20,000 residential structure fires (excluding incendiary and suspicious fires) associated with all electric fans, were attended by fire departments from 1990 through 1998. These fires resulted in an estimated 920 civilian injuries, 100 civilian deaths, and $228 million in property loss."

From the news report we know nothing about whether this was a portable or a permanently fixed/installed fan. Nor do we know exactly why the fan short-circuited. Obviously the parents or guardians need to investigate further and simply not accept the "accidental" moniker. But first, someone needs to preserve the fan. If we can assist you to find the right lawyer give us a call. 800-383-0331 or 515-222-1110. People need answers.

Labels: boy death defect electric electrocution evidence fan horse barn investigation law lawyer legal commentary Lombardi product service

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