February 3, 2003
On July 21, 1997, the plaintiff was working as a machine operator for S&S Plastics, 310 Sherman Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07114. This was her second week at a new position, machine operator. She was assigned to a die press machine. Along with a co-worker the plaintiff was setting up the machine to make soap sponges. A large die was connected to the machine. After seeing that a piece of sponge was hanging from inside the die press, the plaintiff went around to the back of the machine to remove the scrap sponge material. The machine was suddenly activated and the plaintiff's right (dominant) hand was crushed.
The plaintiff was taken to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, and diagnosed with a severe crush injury to the right hand and digits with (1) an open fracture to the index finger metacarpal shaft; (2) closed fractures of the long and ring finger metacarpal shafts; (3) closed fracture of index finger proximal phalanx; (4) injury to the volar plate of the DIP joint of the index finger; (5) multiple open wounds in the palm of the hand; (6) multiple open wounds of the index, long, ring and small fingers with complete transection of the FDP tendon of the index finger and small finger and complete transection of the FDP tendon and FDS tendon of the long and ring fingers; and (7) injury to the ulnar digital neurovascular bundle of the index, long, ring and small fingers. Emergency surgical procedures were performed to repair the plaintiffs right hand. The plaintiff had to undergo subsequent surgery to relieve flexion contractures. Despite these medical procedures and extensive physical therapy, the plaintiff was left with an essentially useless right hand that caused her continuing pain.
Attorney Amos Gern represented the plaintiff.
