PITTSBURGH – The mother of a 10 year-old North Braddock elementary school student has filed suit against the local school district and the manufacturer of a computer charging cabinet, after the student lost a finger while transporting the device through her school.
S.E.S. (a minor by and through her parents and guardian, Sharice Sewell) of Braddock filed suit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas on Dec. 22 versus Woodland Hills School District of North Braddock and NSX Technologies, Inc. (doing business as “Anywhere Cart”), of Temecula, Calif.
The suit says that the district controlled the Wilkins Elementary STEAM Academy in Wilkins Township, which had acquired co-defendant’s NSX Technologies’ AC-Plus Anywhere Cart – a computer charging cabinet on wheels.
“The minor was enrolled as a student in Wilkins Elementary STEAM Academy, an elementary school within the district. On Jan. 7, 2020, the minor was selected, along with another student, by an employee of the district to transport an AC-Plus Cart, a large, metal computer charging cabinet with wheels, designed, manufactured, marketed and/or sold and distributed by defendant NSX Technologies, holding computers, from one classroom to another,” the suit says.
“In order to transport the heavy AC-Plus Cart, the minor and her peer had to wheel the cabinet through a doorway.”
While proceeding through the doorway, S.E.S.’s finger became lodged.
“In the course of transporting the Anywhere Cart through the doorway, the minor plaintiff’s finger was caught in the doorway and the AC-Plus Cart, and was severed,” per the suit.
“The minor plaintiff sought immediate medical attention and underwent surgery on her right middle finger, but the severed tip was ultimately unable to be re-attached and was subsequently amputated.”
For counts of negligence, strict product liability and breach of implied warranty of merchantability, the plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of the Court’s arbitration limits, plus interest and costs.
The plaintiff is represented by Michael F. Santicola of Santicola Steele & Fedeles, in Beaver.
The defendants have not yet secured legal counsel.
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas case GD-20-012962
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com