$700,000 Cash Settlement in Defective Mountain Bike Case

April, 2003

In a confidential settlement reached the day before trial was set to begin, Daniel S. Weinstock obtained a $700,000 settlement on behalf of a 25 year old man who lost partial vision in one eye as a result of a defect contained in a mountain bike he was riding.

The injury occurred while the plaintiff was riding on an off road trail at Chester County's French Creek State Park. The mountain bike was about a year old, and had been well maintained. As the plaintiff was riding down hill he hit a rock and the suspension system broke, ejecting a piece of plastic into his left eye. Mr. Weinstock contended that the component of the suspension assembly that held it together should have been made out of metal rather than plastic.

The plaintiff required surgery which partially restored his vision. However, he is left with blurred, wavy vision, that cannot be completely corrected with eyeglasses.