Gillespie v. R. D. Werner Co.

Plaintiff, Billie Gillespie, was injured in July 1972 as the result of a fall due to the collapse of an aluminum ladder, manufactured by the defendant, R. D. Werner Company (hereafter Werner), while he was doing electrical work. A jury in Madison County found for Gillespie and awarded damages ($72,500) to him. The circuit court denied Werner’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The appellate court, with a dissent, reversed, finding the trial court had erred in denying that motion. (43 Ill. App. 3d 947.) We allowed Gillespie’s petition for leave to appeal. 58 Ill. 2d R. 315.

The…