The family of a 6-year-old New Jersey girl who died in June 2024 after a badminton racket broke during a family vacation is suing the manufacturer, Franklin Sports. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, alleges the racket was defective and that the company failed to adequately warn consumers about its potential dangers.
Little Lucy Morgan was playing badminton with her 10-year-old brother at a rental cottage in Limerick, Maine, when the aluminum shaft of the racket detached from its wooden handle. The loose piece struck Lucy in the head, piercing her skull. She died four days later at a local hospital. Her father, Jesse Morgan, a pastor at Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway, New Jersey, described the incident as a "freak accident" in a blog entry.
According to the lawsuit, the racket, which was part of a set provided by the rental cottage, was not properly assembled. It claims the adhesive connecting the metal stem to the handle was insufficient, allowing the metal part to become a projectile. The family's attorney, Charles P. Hehmeyer of Berman & Simmons, stated that the company should be held accountable to prevent similar tragedies.
"We are committed to obtaining justice for Lucy by holding Franklin Sports accountable. We want to ensure these rackets are manufactured in a way where this type of tragedy never occurs again," Hehmeyer told WCVB. Hehmeyer also noted that a child in New York had previously lost an eye due to a Franklin badminton racket, and asserted that the company had not implemented simple safety measures, such as a pin in the handle, which he described as costing pennies.
The lawsuit seeks damages for funeral expenses, pecuniary loss, emotional distress, and the loss of the child's comfort, society, and companionship. The Morgan family was reportedly enjoying their last full day of vacation when the incident occurred.
Lucy was initially taken to a local hospital and then airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Despite resuscitation efforts, she suffered catastrophic injuries, lost all brain function, and was unable to breathe on her own before succumbing to her injuries. Franklin Sports did not immediately respond to a request for comment.