Two severely injured men are suing the manufacturers and sellers of a reportedly faulty torch for allegedly defective merchandise and other damages.
Eric Redjak of Prospect Heights and Dariusz Klimek, of Silver Lake, Wis., filed suit on Sept. 14 in Cook County Circuit Court against Worthington Cylinders Wisconsin LLC; Worthington Cylinder Corp.; Worthington Industries Inc.; Newell Rubbermaid Inc.; Irwin Industrial Tool Co.; Newell Operating Co.; Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. and Western Industries Inc.
According to the complaint, on Sept. 17, 2013, Redjak and Klimek were in a garage in Des Plaines when MAPP gas allegedly escaped from a MAPP gas BernzOmatic handheld torch and ignited, causing a flash fire that seriously injured both.
The plaintiffs are suing citing defective product, various counts of negligence, breach of warranty, and causing disfigurement, disability, severe pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, and past and future loss of work income.
The plaintiffs seek damages in excess of $30,000 each, plus attorney fees and court costs.
The plaintiffs are represented by W. Joseph Hetherington of Hetherington, Karpel, Bobber & Miller LLC; Louis C. Accurso of the Accurso Law Firm of Kansas City, Mo.; and Peter C. Wachowski, of Bellas & Wachowski of Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court, Law Division case number 2015L009390.