Poor Footwear Design Results in Slip and Fall Injury

This case involves the questionable design of a sneaker model – the plaintiff, located in Oregon, in the claim wore a pair of designer sneakers and sustained significant injury subsequent to a slip and fall incident while wearing the shoes in question. The shoes folded in an unusual manner. We require a highly qualified expert from the sneaker design field to assist in determining if this injury was the result of the defective design of the shoes in question.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. Can poorly designed shoes result in an injury like the one mentioned above?

2. Have you ever worked with / on behalf of a sneaker manufacturer or designer to assist in the development of supportive athletic sneakers?

Expert Witness Response E-008936

Yes, poorly designed footwear can result in the type of accident that has been mentioned, but in this case, it could have been a material failure, resulting in the heal buckling. If the durometer of the Foam between the Upper and the Outsole was not at a correct hardness, moving as this gentleman did, could result in this happening. You can observe that this shoe is designed for athletic use, originally created by MBT, to help firm the butt and decrease fatigue in the muscles while walking in a heal to toe gait. I am interested in reviewing this case and I am qualified to assess/analyze faulty footwear. I am currently the Senior VP of Design and Development and I was the lead running designer for a major footwear manufacturer and formerly a Senior Designer for Timberland Outdoor Performance, Design Manager for TEVA and Saucony, as well as a consultant for many outdoor brands and athletic footwear companies.