Meneely, et al. v. National Spa & Pool Institute, et al.

Products liability - National Spa & Pool Institute class II hopper-bottom pool equipped with an S.R. Smith 606 cantilevered diving board. Sixteen-year-old Meneely struck his head on the bottom of the pool rendering him a quadriplegic. His medical expenses exceeded $420,000.

Plaintiff claimed that the pool in question equipped with the diving board in question constituted an unsafe condition which was unreasonably dangerous to tall, heavy men. Plaintiffs sued a number of defendants including the diving board manufacturer, the home owner where the accident occurred, the pool seller, and a vinyl pool lining manufacturer. Plaintiffs settled with all defendants except the installer and National Spa & Pool Institute which had promulgated standards sanctioning the use of diving boards with hopper-bottom pools. Plaintiff specifically alleged that NSPI was negligent in promulgating the standard and in failing to warn that diving into hopper-bottom pools conforming to the standard was unsafe.

Plaintiffs' verdict for $11 million with a finding that NSPI was 60% at fault, the manufacturer 30% at fault and the installer 10% at fault.

Ralph Johnson, Taylors, South Carolina, acquatics expert;
Kim Tylson, Austin, Texas, acquatics expert;
John Wingfield, Indianapolis, Indiana, acquatics expert;
James McElhaney, Durham, North Carolina, biomechanics;
and
Gale Gehlsen, Muncie, Indiana, biomechanics.

William Rowley, Glendale, California, pool design and acquatic safety;
Glen Egstrom, Los Angeles, California, acquatics;
David Swankin, Washington, D.C., standards expert;
Glen Reynolds, Tacoma, Washington, rehabilitation; and
David Knowles, Seattle, Washington, economist.

None