Seems logical….you’re a halfwit incapable of operating a riding mower w/o cutting off your sons feet so you sue John Deere. How exactly is that the fault of the manufacturer? I feel for his son but I’m glad this was thrown out.
Kudos to the court. I never cease to be amazed at how some people always try to blame someone else for their own negligence, stupidity, and carelessness. It takes a certain breed of idiot to sue the manufacturer for this and and an even higher level idiot to take the case. They figured it was worth a shot to get some money to pay the med bills. I can imagine the conversation between the father and his footless son when the kid realizes he isn’t like others. Gee Dad, how did I lose my feet? Well son, I was driving my John Deere riding mower in reverse and was too lazy to look behind me and there you were? Actually son, it’s your fault for walking up behind me.
It is terribly unfortunate that the child will go through life without feet – but I can’t conceive of having a lawnmower that wouldn’t reverse. What are you supposed to do, get off and manually lift the heavy riding lawnmower to get it backed away from something?
Some folks will go to ridiculous lengths to release themselves from their own stupidity – “it’s not my fault” seems to be quite the rallying call these days, it is always someone else’s fault.
Actually, John Deere has addressed this. I just purchased a new John Deere lawn tractor and you have to press a button by the steering wheel when you back up or the engine will immediately cut off. I first thought this was a pain in the butt, but once I got used to it, no big deal and does cause you to remember to think about what is behind you, including that tree limb that is about to knock you in the head.
I think what he meant was that the blades should stop spinning if the mower was put in reverse. They do now. I feel very badly for this child but it was the father’s negligence not John Deere.
I would like to know why 2 judges were in favor of the lawsuit. Also, as far as working in reverse, they are talking about the mower attachment. Not the actual tractor. I have a Cub Cadet, about 8 years old that when you put it in reverse, the mower stops. You can still drive in reverse, but you can’t mow. So, if this was available on the JD mower back then, he wouldn’t have cut his son’s feet off, he would just have run him over and crushed him completely and most likely killed him. We really need to bring back personal responsibility in this country.
I’m not sure if you would ever get your head right after doing something like this. I feel bad for the kid and the dad, but suing John Deere wouldn’t have made him feel any better.
For anyone wishing to review the actual facts of the case in more detail, here is the ruling. The mower was designed not to operate in reverse, but contained an override feature that would allow it to do so. The father engaged the override feature. He was looking over his right shoulder while mowing in reverse, but the child approached from the left, out of his sightline. His contention is that the mower should not have been designed with the override feature. The ruling is very long, but interesting
When my daughter was younger I wouldn’t even let her be outside while I was mowing the lawn. I made her play in the house for an hour. You just never know what you may run over. Maybe a rock or a stick that kicks out from under the deck and strikes your child or maybe even your child. Keep your kids inside when you or even your neighbors are mowing. A 2 year old should not have been there without supervision. I don’t mean to beat up on the parents but this is NOT John Deere’s fault. How did we all not die in the 60s and 70s before all of these safeties came along. Common sense isn’t as common as it used to be.
Absolutely true Jeff. I dont’ allow anyone in my family in the yard while I’m using my tractor. I apparently hit a rock early this year because the back window in our van was completely shattered. My aunt was mowing years ago and ended up with a piece of wire imbedded in her calf bone. People who don’t recognize the danger in a mower, like those we see on tractors with kids on their laps, are just plain ignorant.
Cutting off a sons feet would be terrible! But there needs to be some personal resposibilty.This country and its people are in bad shape. Unless we all get back to the bible and live by the principles found there, we will be in worse shoes than we are now.
FINALLY! At least 4 judges (out of 6) with the common sense to tell a person that he is repsonsible for his own actions, and not every manufacturer is a pool of money ready to donate for people’s own carelessness.
I feel for the family and the young boy, but I am glad to see common sense prevail in our court system. I have worked in the power equipment industry for 23 years and it never fails to amaze me the stupid and idiotic things people will do with a piece of equipment and then want someone else to be responsible for their lack of common sense. Children should not be out when you are running a mower period! And the next time I see an adult with a child on their lap while they are mowing I may have to slap them! Have a nice day!
Larry K. Higgins II
Sales Manager
Miller Bros. Garden Center, Inc.
I feel for the family and the young boy, but I am glad to see common sense prevail in our court system. I have worked in the power equipment industry for 23 years and it never fails to amaze me the stupid and idiotic things people will do with a piece of equipment and then want someone else to be responsible for their lack of common sense. Children should not be out when you are running a mower period! And the next time I see an adult with a child on their lap while they are mowing I may have to slap them! Have a nice day!
Larry K. Higgins II
Sales Manager
Miller Bros. Garden Center, Inc.
my mower won’t go in reverse with the blades engaged and it has an automatic shut off any time your butt is not directly on the seat….now I happen to have those features but I would not think that the lack of those features would be enough to absolve anyone’s negligence.
Jeff, you are soo right; none of my kids, and now the grand kids, are allowed out in the yard when I mow and for the same reason you noted: rocks and things become missles; and we all should know that accidents happen mostly when and where you least expect them; it just pays to be prudent.
This renews my faith in the court system. The loss of the childs feet is terrible, but what is worse is teaching him that someone else is responsible for anything in life that doesn’t go his way. This seems to emphasis parental responsibility, which is a breath of fresh air.
Seems logical….you’re a halfwit incapable of operating a riding mower w/o cutting off your sons feet so you sue John Deere. How exactly is that the fault of the manufacturer? I feel for his son but I’m glad this was thrown out.
Kudos to the court. I never cease to be amazed at how some people always try to blame someone else for their own negligence, stupidity, and carelessness. It takes a certain breed of idiot to sue the manufacturer for this and and an even higher level idiot to take the case. They figured it was worth a shot to get some money to pay the med bills. I can imagine the conversation between the father and his footless son when the kid realizes he isn’t like others. Gee Dad, how did I lose my feet? Well son, I was driving my John Deere riding mower in reverse and was too lazy to look behind me and there you were? Actually son, it’s your fault for walking up behind me.
It is terribly unfortunate that the child will go through life without feet – but I can’t conceive of having a lawnmower that wouldn’t reverse. What are you supposed to do, get off and manually lift the heavy riding lawnmower to get it backed away from something?
Some folks will go to ridiculous lengths to release themselves from their own stupidity – “it’s not my fault” seems to be quite the rallying call these days, it is always someone else’s fault.
Accept responsibility for your own acts.
Actually, John Deere has addressed this. I just purchased a new John Deere lawn tractor and you have to press a button by the steering wheel when you back up or the engine will immediately cut off. I first thought this was a pain in the butt, but once I got used to it, no big deal and does cause you to remember to think about what is behind you, including that tree limb that is about to knock you in the head.
Still, I agree with the court on the decision.
I think what he meant was that the blades should stop spinning if the mower was put in reverse. They do now. I feel very badly for this child but it was the father’s negligence not John Deere.
I would like to know why 2 judges were in favor of the lawsuit. Also, as far as working in reverse, they are talking about the mower attachment. Not the actual tractor. I have a Cub Cadet, about 8 years old that when you put it in reverse, the mower stops. You can still drive in reverse, but you can’t mow. So, if this was available on the JD mower back then, he wouldn’t have cut his son’s feet off, he would just have run him over and crushed him completely and most likely killed him. We really need to bring back personal responsibility in this country.
good decision. feel bad for the little guy, however, dad has to step up and get his head out!
I’m not sure if you would ever get your head right after doing something like this. I feel bad for the kid and the dad, but suing John Deere wouldn’t have made him feel any better.
For anyone wishing to review the actual facts of the case in more detail, here is the ruling. The mower was designed not to operate in reverse, but contained an override feature that would allow it to do so. The father engaged the override feature. He was looking over his right shoulder while mowing in reverse, but the child approached from the left, out of his sightline. His contention is that the mower should not have been designed with the override feature. The ruling is very long, but interesting
http://www.wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/DisplayDocument.html?content=html&seqNo=37645
When my daughter was younger I wouldn’t even let her be outside while I was mowing the lawn. I made her play in the house for an hour. You just never know what you may run over. Maybe a rock or a stick that kicks out from under the deck and strikes your child or maybe even your child. Keep your kids inside when you or even your neighbors are mowing. A 2 year old should not have been there without supervision. I don’t mean to beat up on the parents but this is NOT John Deere’s fault. How did we all not die in the 60s and 70s before all of these safeties came along. Common sense isn’t as common as it used to be.
Absolutely true Jeff. I dont’ allow anyone in my family in the yard while I’m using my tractor. I apparently hit a rock early this year because the back window in our van was completely shattered. My aunt was mowing years ago and ended up with a piece of wire imbedded in her calf bone. People who don’t recognize the danger in a mower, like those we see on tractors with kids on their laps, are just plain ignorant.
Cutting off a sons feet would be terrible! But there needs to be some personal resposibilty.This country and its people are in bad shape. Unless we all get back to the bible and live by the principles found there, we will be in worse shoes than we are now.
Except for the kid who lost his feet… He still won’t be in any shoes.
And maybe in true application of responsibility, the child can sue his father for negligence when he (the child) reaches his majority.
FINALLY! At least 4 judges (out of 6) with the common sense to tell a person that he is repsonsible for his own actions, and not every manufacturer is a pool of money ready to donate for people’s own carelessness.
I feel for the family and the young boy, but I am glad to see common sense prevail in our court system. I have worked in the power equipment industry for 23 years and it never fails to amaze me the stupid and idiotic things people will do with a piece of equipment and then want someone else to be responsible for their lack of common sense. Children should not be out when you are running a mower period! And the next time I see an adult with a child on their lap while they are mowing I may have to slap them! Have a nice day!
Larry K. Higgins II
Sales Manager
Miller Bros. Garden Center, Inc.
I feel for the family and the young boy, but I am glad to see common sense prevail in our court system. I have worked in the power equipment industry for 23 years and it never fails to amaze me the stupid and idiotic things people will do with a piece of equipment and then want someone else to be responsible for their lack of common sense. Children should not be out when you are running a mower period! And the next time I see an adult with a child on their lap while they are mowing I may have to slap them! Have a nice day!
Larry K. Higgins II
Sales Manager
Miller Bros. Garden Center, Inc.
my mower won’t go in reverse with the blades engaged and it has an automatic shut off any time your butt is not directly on the seat….now I happen to have those features but I would not think that the lack of those features would be enough to absolve anyone’s negligence.
Jeff, you are soo right; none of my kids, and now the grand kids, are allowed out in the yard when I mow and for the same reason you noted: rocks and things become missles; and we all should know that accidents happen mostly when and where you least expect them; it just pays to be prudent.
The Court got something right. The father should be aware of everything around him at all times when on a piese of equipment like this.
This renews my faith in the court system. The loss of the childs feet is terrible, but what is worse is teaching him that someone else is responsible for anything in life that doesn’t go his way. This seems to emphasis parental responsibility, which is a breath of fresh air.
paint fall of the body