Warehouse Worker Loses Leg in Forklift Crush; Jury Awards $17.5 Million Against Hyster-Yale

Christopher Zieske was working as a forklift operator at a Texas warehouse in 2017 when a Yale lift truck manufactured by Hyster-Yale Group trapped his left leg between the machine and a warehouse column. With no seatbelt, harness, or lower-extremity enclosure on the forklift, Zieske had no protection against the crush. Surgeons amputated his leg below the knee.

Zieske filed suit in Hidalgo County, Case No. C-2586-19-H, arguing that Hyster-Yale had designed and sold a machine it knew lacked adequate occupant restraint. The trial, presided over by Judge Letty Lopez of the 389th District Court, began August 30, 2023.

Attorneys Michael Cowen and Malorie Peacock of Cowen Rodriguez Peacock represented Zieske at trial. Their central argument was direct: 'Had the forklift been outfitted with a seatbelt or harness to restrain Zieske and keep him inside the compartment, he would not have had his leg amputated below the knee.' The team presented evidence that Hyster-Yale was aware of the missing restraint system when it sold the equipment.

The jury returned its verdict on September 12, 2023, awarding $9 million for past damages and $8.5 million for future damages, totaling $17.5 million. Jurors assigned fault equally between Zieske and Hyster-Yale, a 50/50 apportionment that cut the damages award in half.

Judge Lopez entered final judgment on September 29, 2023. After applying the 50 percent reduction and adding $1.8 million in prejudgment interest, the court's total judgment came to approximately $10.5 million against Hyster-Yale Group.