This claim involves injuries sustained by a hotel guest in Mississippi resulting from ammonia exposure. The guest was allegedly exposed to ammonia due to a malfunction in a defective refrigerator in the room. The guest sustained severe ammonia poisoning as a result, and suffers from a host of complications. An expert was requested to assess the defective refrigerator in question and further explain design considerations which were overlooked in producing the refrigerator.
Question(s) For Expert Witness
1.) Have you previously designed / certified small refrigerator / freezer units for use in hotel rooms?
2.) If so, are you familiar with appropriate design standards to ensure no ammonia leaks will result from usage?
3.) Have you / any company you've worked for previously been the target of a negligence claim involving a design defect / ammonia poisoning?
4.) Have you ever served as an expert witness on a case similar to the one described above?
5.) Are you familiar with other incidents of hotel minibar / small refrigerators leaking ammonia, causing serious injury?
Expert Witness Response E-005127
I am not aware of any small refrigerators that would be used in a hotel room that use ammonia as the refrigerant. The ones that I am familiar with all used R-12 or 134a at this time. All of the refrigerators that I have designed have used these working fluids. While the design and safety standards are the same, the smallest refrigerators that I have worked on were typical small household refrigerators. Ammonia is typically used for low temperature commercial refrigeration, not consumer appliances. I have not been the target of any claims involving ammonia. I have served as an expert witness but not involving ammonia. I am unaware of any similar small refrigerator incidents leaking ammonia and causing injury, probably because they do not exist.
About the author
Joseph O'Neill
Joe has extensive experience in online journalism and technical writing across a range of legal topics, including personal injury, meidcal malpractice, mass torts, consumer litigation, commercial litigation, and more. Joe spent close to six years working at Expert Institute, finishing up his role here as Director of Marketing. He has considerable knowledge across an array of legal topics pertaining to expert witnesses. Currently, Joe servces as Owner and Demand Generation Consultant at LightSail Consulting.
