Leja v. Schmidt Manufacturing Inc., No. 01-5042; U.S. District Court (DNJ); opinion by Debevoise, S.U.S.D.J.; filed October 19, 2010. DDS No. 32-7-9844 [25 pp.]
This matter arises out of an industrial accident. On May 4, 2000, decedent Kazimierz Leja suffered severe injuries when he attempted to open a bulk sandblasting unit while it was still pressurized. The machine was custom-built by defendant Schmidt Manufacturing Inc. in 1996 for the Sylvan Equipment Corporation. Schmidt assembled various component parts that were produced by other manufacturers, including the camlock closure, which was designed and manufactured by Sypris Technologies Inc. Sylvan leased the machine to L&L Painting Company for use in the removal of paint from the Outerbridge Crossing. When it proved inadequate for that task, Sylvan took the machine back and sold it to Leja’s employer.
