$6 Million Oregon Jury Award In Agriculture Equipment Injury

June 24, 2013

A Multnomah County jury has awarded more than $6 million to a 21-year-old Oregon agricultural worker who was paralyzed from the waist down when his torso was crushed in a hay bale-cutting machine.

The jury found that Double Press Manufacturing, a California company that makes the equipment, was 60 percent responsible for injuries suffered by Zeferino Vasquez on March 31, 2010, in Junction City, just north of Eugene.

The Oregonian reported the jury also determined Vasquez didn’t press a control-panel button that would have prevented the machine from moving while he was inside removing some jammed hay.

Double Press Manufacturing’s attorneys didn’t return calls for comment after the jury decision was read on Friday.

After nearly two weeks of trial, jurors spent about three hours deliberating before reaching a verdict.

Topics Agribusiness

Was this article valuable?

Here are more articles you may enjoy.

Latest Comments

  • June 25, 2013 at 4:22 pm
    insurance idiot says:
    1. Failure to adequately warn? 2. A machine needs to be engineered so that it recognizes someone/something is inside of it so that it won't start. Intense to say the least . .... read more
  • June 25, 2013 at 3:44 pm
    InsGuy says:
    "...company that makes the equipment, was 60 percent responsible..." Next paragraph: "...the jury also determined Vasquez didn’t press a control-panel button that would have... read more

Add a CommentSee All Comments (2)Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

More News
More News Features