Simmons v. MTD Products, Inc.

By Judge Clifford R. Weckstein

A jury found that MTD Products, Inc., is legally responsible for the death of Justin Eric Simmons, a four-year-old boy; awarded compensatory damages of $2 million, and allocated the damage award among Justin’s statutory beneficiaries. MTD asks the court to set aside the jury’s verdict and enter judgment in its favor; or, if that motion is denied, to grant a mistrial motion taken under advisement at trial; or to set the verdict aside and order a new trial. Applying familiar principles, I state the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, the parties…