Mass. Boy Awarded $2.85M in Escalator Injury

A Worcester, Mass. teen whose hand was mangled by an escalator when he was a boy has been awarded $2.85 million dollars in damages.

Thirteen-year-old Kevin Lou has had five surgeries on his right hand since the accident occurred while he visited his grandmother in China at age 4.

A Worcester Superior Court jury awarded the damages to Lou after his family’s suit against escalator manufacturer, Otis Elevator Co.

The jury also awarded Lou’s parents $250,000 each.

A spokeswoman said Otis was disappointed by the verdict and will likely appeal.

Lou can’t grasp objects since the accident, which happened after his hand slipped through a gap between the escalator and its side panels.

Lou’s father said he’ll use the money for surgery to improve the function of his son’s hand.