Werner Ladder Collapse Lawsuit Alleges Defective Device Caused Permanent Injuries

Complaint claims ladder rails buckled during normal use, causing the user to fall from rooftop height.

A Missouri man has filed a product liability lawsuit alleging a Werner extension ladder suddenly collapsed while he was working on his home, causing him to fall from near the roofline.

The complaint (PDF) was originally brought by Kevin A. Borst in Missouri Circuit Court and removed to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri on April 17. It names Werner Co. as the defendant.

Werner Ladder Collapse Allegations

According to the lawsuit, Borst purchased a Werner 24-foot aluminum extension ladder from an Ace Hardware store in Thayer, Missouri, in March 2021. The ladder was later used in October 2023 while he was inspecting and preparing to perform maintenance work on his roof.

The complaint indicates Borst properly positioned the ladder on stable ground, extended it, and climbed to within a few rungs of the top while carrying only light tools. While standing on the ladder, the device allegedly failed without warning, causing a portion of the ladder structure to give way, sending him falling to the ground below.

Borst claims the ladder’s I-beam side rails buckled and bent during ordinary use, alleging the product lacked adequate reinforcement, used substandard materials, and did not include safety features that could have prevented a catastrophic failure.

As a result of the fall, he says he suffered severe injuries, including a displaced fracture of his right wrist that required surgery, along with ongoing pain and disability.

The lawsuit alleges the ladder was defectively designed and manufactured, making it unreasonably dangerous for its intended use. According to the complaint, the aluminum rails and support structure were not strong enough to withstand foreseeable loads, increasing the risk of sudden collapse.

In addition, the filing claims Werner failed to properly test the ladder or warn users about the potential risk. Borst maintains the ladder was being used as intended and had not been altered, indicating the alleged defects were present when it was sold.

“As a direct and proximate result of the malfunction of the above referenced extension ladder, Plaintiff sustained serious and permanent injuries as described herein.”

— Kevin A. Borst v. Werner Co.

The complaint raises claims of strict product liability, negligent failure to warn, negligence, failure to warn, breach of implied warranty, and breach of express warranty. It is seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent impairment.

Ladder Collapse Lawsuits

In recent years, a growing number of ladder-related injury lawsuits have been brought nationwide, with plaintiffs commonly alleging that design or manufacturing defects caused unexpected collapses and serious falls.

Earlier this month, a Massachusetts man filed a product liability lawsuit claiming a 15-foot ladder manufactured by Louisville Ladder and sold through Home Depot suddenly gave way, leaving him with severe spinal injuries and nerve damage.

A separate lawsuit involving a Little Giant Ladder was brought in September 2025. That case focused on the ladder’s locking pin system, which is designed to secure adjustable sections during use but may fail if the mechanism malfunctions.

According to the complaint, the Little Giant ladder contained a defect that prevented internal springs from properly engaging the locking bolts, allowing the structure to give way. As a result, the plaintiff alleges he suffered significant injuries, including a skull fracture, brain bleeding and other trauma.

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