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Federal suit accuses table therapy firm in Oregon man’s death

On Behalf of | Jul 26, 2013 | Civil Litigation |

A federal lawsuit recently filed in a U.S. District Court in Eugene accuses the maker of a inversion therapy table for contributing to the death of a 64-year-old Oregon man, whose family claims was killed after becoming trapped in one of the devices. The lawsuit asserts that the model of inversion table the victim was using at the time of his death was “dangerously defective” and that documentation packaged with the therapeutic device failed to properly warn users to the danger of becoming stuck in an inverted position. The plaintiffs are seeking $1 million in damages. A representative for the company that manufactures the table could not be reached for comment.

Individuals who have suffered the loss or injury of a loved one due to potentially dangerous or defective products may be able to secure monetary compensation through civil litigation. Oregon residents who believe they may have a case should contact a qualified attorney to learn more about how a lawsuit could benefit them.

According to the family’s claim, the man became trapped on the inverted table while using it as a therapeutic aid as advertised by its manufacturer, which touts the table as a way to build muscle and lessen pain in the joints and back. The plaintiffs assert that the victim died after being unable to escape the device or return it to an upright position.

According to the Oregon Medical Examiner’s Office, the examiner who was dispatched to investigate the incident ruled that the man had accidentally asphyxiated. It is unclear whether the examiner commented on any potential connection between the death and the therapy table, though experts say that prolonged period of inversion can cause serious health issues, including kidney failure, blood clots and suffocation. A neurology and neurosurgery expert at one prominent university explained that an individual’s lungs have difficulty expanding when hanging upside down due to pressure from the intestines, live and other internal organs.

Source: Oregon Live, “Federal lawsuit claims Bend man died from being stuck upside down in inversion therapy table” Stuart Tomlinson, Jul. 16, 2013

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