PITTSBURGH — A worker whose foot was crushed when a Caterpillar excavator bucket came crashing to the ground is claiming negligence.
Daniel Morgan filed a complaint June 21 in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against Caterpillar Inc. and Cleveland Brothers Equipment Company Inc., alleging strict products liability, negligence and breach of warranty.
Morgan was working at a job site on July 19, 2019, and shoveling concrete out of a CAT excavator bucket. He alleges that the "quick release safety feature" on the bucket failed and caused the bucket to come crashing down to the ground and crush his foot.
Morgan claims as a result of the accident, he suffered "traumatic crush injuries" to his bones, nerves, ligaments, tissues, muscles and vessels in his foot as well as broken toes. He further claims he has suffered lost wages, scarring and emotional and physiological trauma.
Morgan alleges that Cleveland Brothers had performed maintenance work on the excavator prior to his accident and were responsible for the repair, modifications and installation of the excavator's component parts. He also alleges Caterpillar's negligence for the inadequate design and safety measures on the excavator and its bucket which malfunctioned and "failed to hold its load."
Morgan seeks monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by Ian Watt of Friday & Cox LLC in Pittsburgh.