Customer is Seriously Injured by Dangerous Retail Display

This case involves a drawer at a department store that pulled through and fell on the plaintiff. At the time of the incident in question, the plaintiff was shopping for clothing in the women’s section of a popular department store. There was a large set of drawers that were a part of a display of knit sweaters, with drawers separated by the size and style of the various sweaters that were being offered. The woman went to open one of the drawers that was located at shoulder level when the drawer suddenly pulled through and fell. As a result she suffered shoulder and hand injuries.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Please briefly describe your experience with Retail Display Safety, specifically with drawers.

2. Are there procedures that should have been followed to prevent this situation from happening?

Expert Witness Response E-004539

My experience with drawers is extensive. I have designed over 50 million dollars worth that was manufactured under my supervision and distributed to entire chains such as J.C.Penney's, Sears, Federated, and Walmart which included drawers. I have reviewed several cases in which furniture including drawers or displays caused injury due to faulty design or installation or store maintenance issues. Standard procedure when it comes drawers pulling through include simple "Stops" which prevents the drawer from extending any predetermined length that is considered safe. The condition is rather simple and the design could easily be remedied to avoid a customer from pulling it out. If this is an actual piece of furniture the stop would be a natural part of the design and manufacturing process.