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
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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
And maybe in true application of responsibility, the child can sue his father for negligence when he (the child) reaches his majority.