PHILADELPHIA — A Warminster resident is suing a trailer manufacturer and maintenance provider, citing alleged negligence and product liability.
Robert Covaleski filed a complaint on Jan. 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Landoll Corp. and Dickinson Fleet Services LLC, alleging the defendants breached their duty to design, inspect and maintain the subject trailer free of defective condition that can result in catastrophic injuries to users.
According to the complaint, on Sept. 21, 2017, Covaleski was operating a Landol 930C trailer in the course of his employment that was being serviced, maintained and modified by defendant Dickinson Fleet.
Plaintiff claims he was attempting to lower the upper deck of the trailer using its air-activated lift mechanism when the deck failed to properly lower. As he attempted to free the trailer's lift mechanism from an apparent jam, the massive deck of the trailer violently crashed down, crushing his arm between the deck and the body of the trailer, the suit says.
As a result, plaintiff's arm was trapped and he was in agony as his arm remained crushed underneath the deck until help finally arrived, the suit says.
The plaintiff holds Landoll Corp. and Dickinson Fleet Services LLC responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to provide adequate warnings to the ultimate users of the trailers about the significant risk of lifts that collapse suddenly.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in a sum in excess of $75,000 in compensatory damages together with lawful interest, costs of suit, and delay damages, and brings the action to recover the same. He is represented by Robert Mongeluzzi, David Kwass and Benjamin Baer of Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky in Philadelphia.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case No. is 5:19-cv-00184-MAK.