Lost Fingers Lawsuit, for Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions

Richard Houpert seeks $1 million in damages after being injured building sets for the comedy "That's My Boy."

A Boston carpenter has sued Sony Pictures, subsidiary Columbia, and Sandler's Happy Madison Productions after suffering an injury building sets for That's My Boy in May 2011. Richard Houpert had several fingers partially cut off and sustained fractures on his right hand, and he seeks $1 million in damages.

In his complaint, filed last week at the District Court in Boston, Houpert claims he was working with a table saw when his hand was "drawn into the saw." The saw was not properly fitted with safety components such as saw stops and safety guards, he claims, and the injuries to his right dominant hand have caused him loss of income.

 “The cost to provide saws with saw stops, guards, or other safety equipment was minimal compared to the enormity of the risk of injury to the users of the saws,” the complaint argues.

Houpert has also targeted Sony and Columbia. The plaintiff claims the film production companies did not ensure safety on set despite having set aside a monetary fund for that purpose.

The studios are not the only ones Houpert blames—he has also taken aim at Black & Decker, the manufacturer of the saw. The Black & Decker 3-horsepower Delta unisaw was "dangerous and defective," "not of merchantable quality and unfit for its intended and forseeable uses," the complaint holds, and Houpert claims negligence and breach of implied and express warranties.

Read More.... http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/adam-sandlers-happy-madison-productions-580521

Law Offices of Jonathan Franklin
Open Evenings and Weekends this Summer
Call Us Now (310) 273-9600   
 http://www.jonathanfranklinlaw.com