Burch v. Sears, Roebuck and Co.

On August 8, 1970, Paul Burch was cutting wet grass with a seven year old, electric power mower which had been purchased second hand from a florist. The wet grass became impacted and “choked” the cutting action of the blade. Without turning off the electrical switch and without disconnecting the cord from the electrical supply, Burch turned the mower on its side, reached into the blade area, and began to remove the impacted, wet grass.1 After some of the wet grass had been removed, the blade started again to rotate and in the process cut off several fingers from Burch’s hand. The majority…