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Malfunctioning Machinery Causes Man to be Electrocuted

3D Model Demonstrates Mechanics of High-Voltage Contactor

Attorney Stephen M. Johnson of Berglund & Johnson secured a favorable verdict and recovered $6.2 million for his client who was electrocuted by malfunctioning machinery, leaving the Plaintiff with surface electrical burns over 30% of his body and additional brain trauma. The mechanism in question was a High-Voltage contactor, which was being held in an MCC A-21 BUS and typically turns off safely when the BUS is opened due to a lever connecting the door to the circuit breaker. The day of the incident, the Plaintiff had opened the door of the MCC A-21 BUS to check on the contactor. He saw that the contactor was in the wrong position and assumed the machine had jammed, as it had done in the past. He attempted to jiggle the mechanism back into its place, as he had done countless times before; however, the door of the BUS had been disconnected from the on/off switch without the Plaintiff's knowledge. When he touched the machine in his attempt to free it, he was electrocuted.

Attorney Johnson reached out to DK Global for animations that would help explain the complexity of the machinery that electrocuted his client. He utilized the dynamic 3D model of the mechanism to aid in explaining the Plaintiff’s experience and what had gone wrong on the day of the incident. Using schematics for the machine, our team put together a 3D model of the High-Voltage contactors used in the building, as well as the MCC A-21 BUS. The camera zoomed in, and the different components of the MCC cubicle were labeled with text. The presentation demonstrated how the MCC cubicle holds the mechanism that allows the contactor to be Open/Close (Energized/De-energized). The 3D interlock on the 3D handle mechanism was shown pushed in to allow the handle to be moved up in the Close position. 3D modeled images showed that as the handle is being moved up, the linkage rod pushes the arm down and rotates the claw assembly to draw the contactor close and connect it to the BUS. Next, a 3D modeled image of the MCC A-21 Bus from the day of the incident depicted the external ON/OFF operating handle that was not connected to the linkage that allowed for opening and closing of the contactor. Finally, we see a damages board showing the many injuries the Plaintiff sustained that day; including an acute upper gastrointestinal bleed, pulmonary embolism, and an anoxic brain injury.

Stephen Johnson is an associate at Berglund & Johnson who is quickly building a reputation for litigation. He specializes in complex litigation cases, primarily involving corporate liability. His business and economics background lends him a great understanding of the inner workings of companies, therefore allowing him to represent his clients against their tactics successfully.

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"Machines used at work vary widely depending on a particular industry. Explaining the way in which a specific machine operates to a general audience can present a challenge to an attorney. Our animations seamlessly build a comprehensive bridge between the complicated details and the results of the incident."

Michael Caldwell, Founder & CEO


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