The wife of a recently deceased man has filed suit against the manufacturer of a manlift, alleging the lift flipped off a barge and into a river, drowning her husband.
Tracy Gammon, as personal representative of the estate of Andrew Edward Gammon, filed suit March 26 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Terex Corporation, Gene Industries Inc., Gene International Inc., Gene Holdings Inc. and Traylor-Massman-Weeks LLC.
According to the complaint, Gammon's husband, Andrew Edward Gammon, was sitting in a Genie S-80 Manlift, which was sitting on a barge, when the manlift was struck by a pipe.
“The Genie S-80 Manlift, to which Mr. Gammon was tethered, flipped off the barge and into the Mississippi River, at which time Mr. Gammon drowned,” the suit states.
Following Andrew’s death, his wife and their two minor children lost earnings and incurred funeral expenses. They also suffered grief, sorrow and mental suffering, according to the complaint.
Tracy Gammon blames defendants Terex Corporation, Genie Industries and Traylor-Massman-Weeks for causing her husband’s death, saying they negligently failed to adequately warn of the risk imposed by using the manlift on the barge, failed to provide adequate instructions for the safe use of the manlift and failed to design the manlift so it could safely be used on the barge.
Tracy Gammon is seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs, punitive damages and other relief the court deems just. She is being represented by Maurice R. Graham and Thomas K. Neill of Gray, Ritter and Graham in St. Louis.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 14-L-240.