Digital comes out on top as judge overturns RSI ruling

A New York judge has overturned a landmark $5.3 million award against Digital Equipment in a repetitive strain injury (RSI) case after evidence suggested that the manufacturer was not to blame.

Patricia Geressy originally won her claim for damages against Digital in December 1996 when a jury decided that she was suffering from wrist injuries caused by using a Digital keyboard in her workplace at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

But additional evidence has now surfaced that suggested Digital?s keyboards were not at the root of Geressy?s problems.

Evidence in the form of Geressy?s medical report attributed her wrist injury to an existing neck condition.

In the appeal case, the judge ruled that the injuries she sustained were not caused by using a Digital keyboard.

At the time of the initial ruling, the jury severely criticised Digital for not attaching warning notices about the dangers of RSI to its keyboards, in line with the practice of other PC manufacturers.

Commenting on the latest ruling, a Digital representative welcomed the overturning of the award.

?We have maintained and continue to maintain that our keyboards are safe,? he said.

The ruling is likely to affect the outcome of a number of outstanding RSI cases, which have not yet been heard.

Last year, Digital had to defend itself against two other RSI cases involving women, but it was never found liable. There are an estimated 50 cases pending against Digital?s keyboards, compared with an overall total of 2,000 RSI cases.