Jury awards $6 million to workers with CTS
A federal jury in Brooklyn has awarded almost $6 million to three workers who sustained carpal tunnel syndrome after prolonged data entry work. But surprisingly, the money will come from the manufacturer of the keyboard they used, not their employers.
The women had sued Digital Equipment Corporation in Maynard, the manufacturer of the LK201 keyboard used by all three women at their different workplaces. The verdict came as somewhat of a surprise because two other computer manufacturers have won courtroom battles in recent years, convincing juries their keyboards were not responsible for the plaintiffs’ repetitive motion injuries. Digital Equipment issued a statement saying the company would appeal the verdict.
Part of the case hinged on the fact Digital had taken steps to protect its own workers from carpal tunnel syndrome and other injuries. The plaintiffs’ attorney, Steven J. Phillips, JD, of New York, argued that the company should have extended that effort to the benefit of its customers.
The most seriously injured of the women won $5.3 million, the second won $306,000, and the third won $278,000.
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