Cocco v. Deluxe Systems, Inc.

While cleaning the blades of an industrial shredding machine at the Revere Sugar Refinery plant where he worked, David M. Cocco, the plaintiff, suffered severe injuries to his hand. A fellow worker had brushed up against the control switch with his knee and inadvertently activated the machine while Cocco had his hand in it. The switch on the machine at the time of the accident was a simple, unguarded on-off switch. At the trial, there was expert testimony for Cocco on the basis of which the jury could reasonably have determined that, given the manner and circumstances in which the shredder…