Man paralyzed by toppled portable toilet wins $5M settlement
A Pennsylvania man paralyzed when two of his relatives shook the portable toilet he was using, causing it to topple over, has obtained a $5 million settlement.
Donald Adams III settled with the toilet manufacturer, Poly-San, the installer and the two relatives, who were cousins-in-law, the Legal Intelligencer (sub. req.) reports in a story summarized by the Associated Press and United Press International.
Adams’ suit contended the toilet was top-heavy and should have included spikes to hold it in place. The suit also said the toilet should not have been installed on a hillside.
The accident occurred in 2008 when Adams went on a hunting and fishing trip with his cousins-in-law, the Legal Intelligencer says. According to the plaintiffs’ pretrial memorandum, the cousins-in-law decided to play a practical joke on Adams. They backed their truck up next to the toilet so Adams could not open the door, then shook the unit, inadvertently causing it to tip over.
Adams’ law firm, Saltz, Mongeluzzi, Barrett & Bendesky, issued a press release and reprinted the Intelligencer story.
