Verdict: $2,000,000

Under a confidential settlement, the Defendant which was a national manufacturer of garbage truck container and compaction equipment had designed and manufactured a tailgate with an unguarded, exposed "slide shoe" assembly for the hydraulically powered compaction arm, all of which created a hazardous pinch-point for operators of the truck. In downstate Illinois, the Plaintiff had all toes of his right foot amputated while troubleshooting for a hydraulic leak.