The family of a six-year-old girl from New Jersey has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Franklin Sports Inc. following a fatal accident involving a badminton racket. The lawsuit, announced by the law firm Berman & Simmons on Wednesday, alleges that a defective racket caused the death of Lucy Morgan during a family vacation in Maine.
The incident occurred on June 1, 2024, at a lake house in Limerick, Maine. According to Maine State Police, Lucy was struck when an aluminum shaft from a badminton racket became dislodged while she was playing with her older brother. The shaft pierced her skull, leading to her death in a hospital four days later.
Attorney Travis Brennan, representing the Morgan family, stated that the racket provided at the rental property lacked proper adhesive and a secondary restraint system to keep it from breaking apart. The lawsuit seeks damages for funeral expenses, pecuniary loss, emotional distress, and loss of companionship.
In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for Franklin Sports Inc. said the company could not comment on specific allegations due to the pending litigation. The spokesperson noted that the company is committed to product safety and is reviewing the circumstances of the incident, while expressing sympathy for the Morgan family.
Consumers and families who own similar sports equipment may notice changes in how these products are marketed or manufactured if the litigation leads to industry-wide safety recalls or updated production standards. For the Morgan family, the day-to-day reality involves the permanent loss of a child and the legal process of pursuing accountability for a product they allege was dangerous. A ruling or settlement in this case could influence how manufacturers use adhesives and restraints in aluminum-shafted equipment, potentially affecting production costs and retail prices for recreational goods.
The legal proceedings will set a precedent regarding the liability of manufacturers for injuries occurring at third-party rental properties. The next steps in the case include the discovery phase and potential court dates, though specific deadlines have not yet been reported. Franklin Sports Inc. has indicated it is currently conducting an internal review of the product’s safety and the details of the June accident as the legal process continues.