Settlements & Verdicts
$20 Million
2002 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries
A propane explosion in a Richland, Iowa, home killed seven people and injured eight. The eight survivors sued the homeowners and various companies in the supply and distribution chain responsible for the propane and the pipeline on the homeowners’ land. The case reportedly is the largest personal injury settlement in Iowa history.
$9.6 Million
2006 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries & Death
One Plaintiff suffered severe chemical burns and another died when an anhydrous ammonia tank ruptured, spilling 1,500 gallons of the chemical, and then exploded. It was found that there was a failure to warn users about the necessity for periodic inspections and testing of anhydrous ammonia tanks and about the dangers of the chemical. See in news
$8.3 Million
2003 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries & Death
Plaintiffs had complained about a gas smell in their house, but were assured that nothing was wrong. Days before the explosion, which killed the husband and burned more than 50 percent of the wife’s body, the plaintiffs’ gas detectors were set off. One of the defendants told the plaintiffs to unplug the detectors because they were too sensitive. The settlement was reached through arbitration.
$5.9 Million
2006 - Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries & Death
Three children were severely burned when a propane leak caused their house to explode without warning. The gas distributors failed to conduct a required gas check inspection which would have detected the leak, there was a failure to warn of the defective nature of a propane warning agent and there was a failure to encourage use of gas detectors.
$4.9 Million
1999 - Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability/Defective Drug
Recovery for a middle-aged woman due to a recalled drug used for weight loss.
$3 Million
2004 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries
After their house exploded, plaintiffs say defendants did not warn them about a defective propane warning agent.
$2.2 Million
2006 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Paraplegic
A defectively designed motor vehicle was cited as the cause of an on-road SUV rollover in which plaintiff, due to a roof crush, sustained catastrophic injuries rendering him a paraplegic.
$1.8 Million
2005 - Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries
R.K. suffered second and third degree burns as a result of a gas explosion. The court ruled that the retailer did not warn of the potential of the gas to lose its odor; therefore, retailer should have suggested the use of a gas detector. See in news
$1.7 Million
2005 - Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries
A propane company failed to warn of the defective nature of a chemical, including the tendency of odor to fade; therefore, it should have encouraged the use of gas detectors. M.B., a high school senior, suffered burns due to an explosion.
$1.45 Million
2005 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries
The defendants failed to warn of dangers following a new power line installation. The power line caused a fire that trapped the plaintiff in a shed, where he suffered severe burns.
$1.25 Million
2004 - Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Motor Vehicle Accident
Injury: Traumatic Brain Injury
A 16-year-old passenger received a traumatic brain injury after the vehicle the teenager was in hit another vehicle.
$1.25 Million
2000 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries
The plaintiff suffered burns on 29 percent of his body, including second and third degree burns on his face, when a retailer and other defendants failed to warn of the defective nature of a propane warning agent. The propane retailer and other defendants failed also to tell plaintiffs to buy and use a propane gas detector.
$1.125 Million
2002 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability Automotive
Injury: Paraplegic
A Ford Explorer swerved to avoid a deer, causing the vehicle to roll over. The passenger sustained a spinal injury, rendering him paraplegic. This is the first lawsuit in Minnesota involving the alleged tendency of Ford Explorers to roll over. See in news article 1 and article 2
$1.1 Million
1999 - Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability/Defective Drug
Recovery for a middle-aged woman due to recalled drug used for weight loss.
$1.085 Million
2006 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability
Injury: Severe Burn Injuries
Plaintiff suffered burns to 27% of his body, including second and third degree burns on face, hands, back and legs, due to an LP gas explosion in which retailers and other defendants failed to warn of the defective nature of a propane warning agent. The propane retailer and other defendants also failed to advise the plaintiffs to obtain and utilize a propane gas detector.
$1.049 Million
2004 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability/Defective Drug
Recovery for a 78 year-old woman due to recalled drug.
$1 Million
2004 – Gregory N. McEwen
Type of Action: Product Liability/Defective Drug
Recovery for a 54-yeard old woman due to recalled drug.