Cook County Jury Finds in Favor of Federal Signal Corporation in Trial of Eight Firefighter Hearing Loss Claims
November 28, 2011 –There is no doubt that the audible devices uses in most fire alarm systems are loud. Well, they are by designed meant to be. Ask yourself what good an audible device would be if it were not loud. How could we wake people up or get working people’s attention if they were not?
Evidently there is a group of men and women who work for the fire service that feel otherwise. I’m glad to report that the judge was level headed in his decision by nixing that effort.
OAK BROOK, Ill., Nov. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS), a leader in environmental, safety and transportation solutions, announced today that a Cook County, Illinois jury absolved the Company from any liability in lawsuits brought by eight Chicago firefighters and found that the Company’s siren products were not defective. These firefighters claimed that they had developed hearing loss caused by exposure to sirens manufactured by the Company. After a two week trial, the jury deliberated for less than two hours in reaching a unanimous decision in favor of the Company.
This was the third trial in Cook County involving the consolidated claims of several firefighters claiming hearing loss. The Company previously had obtained a complete defense verdict in a consolidated trial in Cook County, Illinois involving 27 firefighters in 2008. The Company also lost a jury trial in 2009 involving consolidated claims of nine firefighters, which the Company is currently appealing. During the past two years, the Company also has been involved in hearing loss trials involving firefighters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the Philadelphia trials, the Company obtained complete defense verdicts on 16 of the 17 firefighter claims that were tried to verdict.
Jennifer Sherman, General Counsel for the Company, stated, “Our success in this trial as well as past trials demonstrates that our position in aggressively defending these cases is justified. We believe that sirens are important public safety products and we are committed to successfully defending these cases.” Gordon Ankney, the Company’s lead attorney from Thompson Coburn, stated, “We are pleased with the outcome of this trial. We believe that the jury’s quick decision after a long trial reaffirms that Federal Signal’s sirens are not defective, but are essential safety products that protect the public as well as firefighters themselves.”
About Federal Signal
Federal Signal Corporation (NYSE: FSS) enhances the safety, security and well-being of communities and workplaces around the world. Founded in 1901, Federal Signal is a leading global designer and manufacturer of products and total solutions that serve municipal, governmental, industrial and institutional customers. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., with manufacturing facilities worldwide, the company operates four groups: Safety and Security Systems, Environmental Solutions, Federal Signal Technologies, and Fire Rescue. For more information on Federal Signal, visit: http://www.federalsignal.com.
SOURCE Federal Signal Corporation
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Having been in the Volunteer fire service and driven trucks with
federal Q sirens- electric motor driven units on them they are loud but your in an enclosed cab
and just the shear noise the diesel engine and everything else going on the sirens are not that loud.
So I do not get where they could possibly think the sirens caused there hearing loss. and most modern fire trucks you have head sets on anyways to communicate due to all the different noises.
There is something else going on here.and I smell a rat.