Woman Sues Adidas: Shoes Got Stuck, Tripped Her
Normally, when you trip and fall, it's because you're unsteady on your feet or stepped onto or into something you shouldn't have.
When your shoes are implicated in that fall, it's usually a matter of untied laces or worn out soles.
Sound about right? Well, here's a new one:
According to a Chicago suburbanite, her new Adidas Midiru shoes stuck together and tripped her. She's suing.
Anna Bourtseva purchased a pair of Midiru shoes from an Adidas outlet in June 2010. Six days later, her shoes stuck together, landing her facedown on the ground. She suffered serious injuries, including cuts and bruises, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
Bourtseva filed a lawsuit against Adidas last week in state court, which, according to the paper, alleges that Adidas manufactured the Midiru shoes with materials that have a tendency to stick together when touching. She also claims that the shoes failed to come with an adequate warning.
This is a classic products defect suit that relies on the theory of strict liability as opposed to negligence.
To prove that Adidas is liable for the injuries caused by its Midiru shoes, Bourtseva must demonstrate that the shoes were unreasonably dangerous and that she was injured while using the product properly.
"Unreasonably dangerous" can be satisfied by showing that there was a design defect or that Adidas failed to warn its customers of potential danger.
It's too difficult to tell at this stage whether Bourtseva will win her requested $50,000. One thing, however is for sure.
There will be a lot of questions, and maybe even a demonstration, in an attempt to figure out exactly why her feet touch when she walks.
Related Resources:
- Suit Claims Adidas Midiru Shoes Pose a Tripping Hazard (ABA Journal)
- Defective and Dangerous Products - Proving Fault (FindLaw)
- Settling Products Liability Claims (FindLaw)
- How does strict liability apply to product liability cases? (FindLaw)
- Anna Bourtseva Sues Adidas For Defective Midiru Shoes (FindLaw's Chicago Personal Injury Blog)
- Can a Bra Cause a $75,000 Skin Discoloration? (FindLaw's Injured)