$35 million Award The $35.3 Million Verdict Gary Forde, 35, of Chaska Minnesota, sued the California based George Martin Co. after he suffered permanent brain damage when his skull was crushed between a moving mechanical arm and a conveyor belt below it. Forde, confined to a wheelchair, lost sight in one eye, is losing sight in the other, lost his hearing in one ear, suffers from spasms and tremors and will require 24 hour a day care for life. The jury agreed that the George Martin Co. should have equipped the box stacking machine with the same safety device that the company has used in Europe for the past 10 years. The safety device is similar to the light beams used to prevent garage doors from closing on people. "When you start counting up all the medical costs and what it would be like to live like that for the rest of your life, substantial verdicts are justified," said David Weissbrodt, law professor at the University of Minnesota. Compiled from articles in the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. For additional information visit: Machinery Technical File E-mail: qnet@ce-mark.com