News & Insights
Reid Carpenter Publishes Law360 Article on the Importance of Context in Agriculture Equipment Manufacturer Defense
January 28, 2022
Lightfoot Franklin & White LLC partner Reid C. Carpenter recently published an article with Law360 (subscription required) on why providing the appropriate context for a jury is vitally important to the foundation of an attorney’s defense strategy, particularly when agriculture equipment is involved.
“Although virtually every agricultural equipment manufacturer will admit that they do not want any operators to be injured on one of their machines, the reality is that accidents are going to occur. Jurors realize that, as well,” Carpenter wrote. “The key is to give them the appropriate information to allow them to evaluate the overall context for the other incidents offered by the other side.”
In the article, Carpenter examines various points, including how diving into the date of manufacture of a piece of equipment can successfully explain why certain technologies or safety devices were not part of a product’s design. Since these machines are built to operate in tough environments, many of the products being used today likely left the factory decades ago. Therefore, it’s likely the technology or safety device being questioned did not exist at the time of manufacturing.
Carpenter is a partner in Lightfoot’s Birmingham office where he manages a general litigation practice. His focus includes defending clients in product liability, natural gas and healthcare matters. He graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law where he was a member of the Order of Barristers.