Harry Reid testifies exercise device injury cost him Senate

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Harry Reid testifies exercise device injury cost him Senate

By KEN RITTER
March 29, 2019

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid told a Nevada jury Thursday that his career was cut short by injuries he suffered when a TheraBand exercise device slipped from his hand and he fell in his home bathroom in 2015.

From a wheelchair on the witness stand in a product liability lawsuit against Ohio-based device maker Hygenic Corp., the 79-year-old longtime Democratic leader covered half his face with his hand to indicate the bones he said were “smashed” when he spun around and fell against cabinets in his bathroom.

Despite surgeries, he said he has irreparable retina damage and can only distinguish light from dark in one eye.

“I hurt myself really bad,” he said. “I spun around. I can’t tell you more specifically. I hit the counter.”

Reid is suing the TheraBand maker for unspecified monetary damages, claiming civil negligence and failure to warn the public the elastic physical resistance band was “unreasonably dangerous,” particularly for the elderly like him. He is due to resume testimony on Friday.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/0457ddcc5d784bf8b0a3598287407e64

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The case is Harry Reid and Landra Gould v. Hygenic Intangible Property Holding Company et al.

[Hekate]

1. Poor guy. He was a boxer when young, iirc, so he kept up an exercise routine.

I am just so sorry this happened to him.

[JI7]

2. i remember when he was injured but didn't know the details of it. how horrible.

[SunSeeker]

3. Sounds like this "device" was like a big rubber band.

What a horrific injury he had.

[octoberlib]

4. I've used resistance bands before when

I was in physical therapy for tendinitis. Physical therapists use them all the time and they’re very effective. I don’t know if they use this specific brand , though. One thing I would never do is use them in a bathroom. I only exercise in places where there’s plenty of space from other objects .

[Joe941]

5. It's too bad about the injuries, but is the company at fault?

I don't really know the details about the rubber band.

[DeminPennswoods]

6. Sorry Reid was hurt, but

these bands, and there are 5 levels from very stretchy to tight, are used all the time. My parents used them with no problems. I can't understand why anyone would use one in the bathroom or be standing especially later in life when one's balance isn't as good.

[Amishman]

7. Also questioning the use in the bathroom, especially if they were stored there

Soap and other cleaning products are known to deteriorate the material.