Williams v. Laurence-David, Inc.

This is an action for personal injuries allegedly sustained as a result of contact dermatitis from an allergic reaction to rubber gloves supplied by the defendant to plaintiff’s employer. The case was tried before a jury, which returned a verdict in favor of the defendant. The trial court then entered an order allowing plaintiff’s motion for a new trial. Defendant appeals.

Plaintiff had worked in the plywood industry as a “spreaderman” for 18 years. During that time he, like other “spreadermen,” had used rubber gloves of the kind sold by defendant to protect his hands from plywood glue and…