Little Giant Ladder Lawsuit Claims Defective Design Caused Severe Fall Injuries

Similar products were recalled in March 2017, due to the potential for locking pins to fail, creating a potential fall hazard for consumers.

A Connecticut man has filed a lawsuit alleging that he suffered serious injuries when his Little Giant Ladder collapsed during use, causing him to fall approximately 10 feet onto his driveway.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Joseph Wasik III in Connecticut Superior Court late last month, naming Little Giant Ladder Systems as the sole defendant.

Little Giant Ladders are a well-known brand sold both in stores and online through major retailers such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, Amazon, Overstock, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Target. The ladders feature locking pins meant to secure their adjustable sections. However, if those pins fail, users could fall and suffer serious injuries.

Issues with these locking pins were previously highlighted in a Little Giant Ladder recall announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in March 2017. The recall included approximately 37,000 multipurpose ladders equipped with locking pins/rung fasteners that could fail, posing a fall hazard to users.

In his lawsuit, Wasik indicates that he purchased a Little Giant Leveler ladder from Home Depot in November 2020. Although this was three years after the CPSC recall, Wasik alleges his ladder suffered from a similar defect.

The complaint states that Wasik was using the ladder on June 9, 2024, when its internal springs failed to lock the bolts into the frame, which caused part of the ladder to suddenly collapse.

Following the ladder’s collapse, Wasik claims that he fell approximately 10 feet to the ground, landing on his driveway. The complaint indicates that Wasik suffered severe injuries as a result of the fall, including a left temporal fracture with auditory loss and intracranial hemorrhaging, forearm abrasions, vertigo, and various nerve, muscle and soft tissue injuries, which have cost him significant expenses for hospital and medical treatment.

Wasik attributes the ladder’s collapse to manufacturing defects by Little Giant Ladders, citing negligence in its design, testing, production, assembly, labeling, instructions, distribution and sale.

“At all times mentioned herein, the defendant, Little Giant Ladder Systems, LLC, designed, assembled, manufactured, tested, packaged, labeled, marketed, distributed, leased, rented and/or sold the Little Giant Leveler ladder that caused personal injuries and losses to the plaintiff, Joseph Wasik, III.”

— Joseph Wasik III v. Little Giant Ladder Systems

The complaint raises allegations of the defendant’s violations of Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572m – § 52-572q. Wasik is seeking monetary damages in excess of $15,000.

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