Date: 07-28-2006

Case Style: Estates of Lois and Randy Anderson v. Kohler Co. and Bratco Inc.

Case Number: 22002-00895

Judge: Michael Byron Calvin

Court: Circuit Court, St. Louis County, Missouri

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Glenn Gulick, Jr., Law Office of Glen R. Gulick, Jr., Joplin, Missouri

Defendant's Attorney:

Tom Weaver of Armstrong Teasdale, LLP, St. Louis, Missouri

Kevin Schnurbusch of Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion LLC, St. Louis, Missouri for Bratco, Inc.

Description:

The Estates of Lois and Randy Anderson sued the Kohler Company and Bratco Inc. on a products liability theory for the wrongful death of the couple from carbon monoxide poisoning on June 1, 1999. The Andersons died as a result of a leak of carbon monoxide into the cabin from the exhaust pipe of the 40-foot cabin cruiser's generator. The Andersons' children claimed that the generator manufactured and sold by Kohler was defectice and unreasonably dangerous and that the defect caused the deaths of their parents. Bratco performed work on the boat in Oklahoma before it was moved to the Lake of the Ozarks where the accident occurred.

The defenses asserted by the defendants are not available.

Outcome: Plaintiffs' verdict for $11 million. The concluded that Kohler was 67 percent at fault in Lois Anderson's death, and that Bratco was 23 percent at fault. Lois Anderson, they said, was 10 percent responsible for her own death because she failed to check and maintain the generator. Bratco settled before the jury returned its verdict.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: None