Legal Beagles

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Unforeseeable Use

Debunked: Guy trims hedges with lawnmower but trims own extremities; sues; wins big!

Everyone knows personal injury horror stories -- how someone does something completely stupid, mayhem results, and a jury rewards them for their actions. Although some of the tales may have a kernel of truth (surrounded by a massive pus-filled tumor of lies), this one is not true.

Covered by Brunvand in _The Mexican Pet_ ("The Lawnmower Accident") and _The Choking Doberman_ ("Media Sources and Business Legends"), the story of the misguided groundskeeper was oft-cited as proof of the need for tort reform. It was even raised during Congressional Subcommittee hearings held on the late 1970's on proposed tort reform legislation -- and found to be untrue.

Sources: Statement of John J. LaFalce, Chairperson of the Subcommittee on Economic Stablization (describing reports and investigation revealing that no such case existed), printed in _Product Liability Insurance: Hearings Before the Subcommitte on Capital, Investment and Business Opportunities of the House Committee on Small Business,_ 95th Congr., 1st Sess. (1977) (five vols); Joseph A. Page, "Deforming Tort Reform," review of _Liability: The Legal Revolution and Its Consequences,_ by Peter W. Huber, printed in the Book Review section of the _Georgetown Law Journal,_ 78 Geo. L.J. 649 (February 1990).