Wal-Mart to Pay $1.8 Million over Lawnmower Lawsuit

By Amy Teeple

Published on August 28, 2006

In a previous trial, jurors made an award in favor of the West Virginia victim, Joyce Burnside, for injuries she sustained from the accident. The original award was $2.45 million, but the jury found Burnside to be 25 percent responsible and reduced her award to $1.856 million. Wal-Mart appealed the initial ruling, but has since agreed to pay Burnside.

In May 2002, Burnside, 58, jumped off of her Murray lawnmower when it seemed to be tipping over. The blades of the mower were supposed to stop within five seconds of Burnside jumping off the seat. Instead, the blades continued to turn as the mower tumbled 30 feet down a hill and toward Burnside.

Burnside used her arm to protect herself from the tumbling lawnmower. The blades chopped off all but her thumb and forefinger, while cutting her elbow and crushing the bone. Burnside underwent 18 operations and suffered several bouts of infection.

Wal-Mart was named in the lawsuit because Murray, the lawnmower’s manufacturer, had filed for bankruptcy and gone out of business, but the discount retailer continued to sell the mowers.

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