NEW ORLEANS –A Louisiana resident has filed a product liability lawsuit against Walmart claiming he purchased a portable basketball system that collapsed during assembly, causing him severe injuries.
Cody Williams, a resident of Cut Off, filed the lawsuit in federal court against Walmart and Suzhou Innovative Sports Goods, citing violations of the Louisiana Products Liability Act.
According to court documents, Williams alleges he suffered substantial personal injuries on December 25, 2022, while trying to assemble an NBA 50-Inch Portable Basketball System, Model No. UGO-20432WM, purchased from Walmart. The incident occurred while Williams was adjusting the basketball hoop's height using the "Infinity Crank System." The backboard unexpectedly detached, crushing Williams' left pinkie finger so severely that it had to be amputated.
Williams says the basketball hoop was defectively and negligently designed by both Walmart and Suzhou Innovative, leading to a catastrophic failure of the crank system. The complaint highlights that economic, safer alternative designs were available, and the defendants failed to address the product's defects.
He is seeking compensatory damages for bodily injuries, pain, suffering, mental anguish, loss of normal life, loss of wages and medical expenses plus interest and other relief.
Williams is being represented by Louis L. Gertler of The Gertler Law Firm in New Orleans and Adam J. Kress of Johnson Becker in St. Paul, Minnesota.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana case number 2:23-cv-06843