Cable Failure in Fitness Equipment Leads to Serious Injury

Case Overview

This case involves an individual who sustained injuries while using a rowing machine at a fitness facility. During their workout, the cable on the rowing machine allegedly failed, leading to a sudden and unexpected incident. The individual seeks legal recourse for the injuries incurred. The focus is on understanding the nature of the cable failure through the expertise of a metallurgist who can analyze the failure's cause and the equipment's design and maintenance.

Questions to the Materials Engineering expert and their responses

Please describe your experience in metallurgy, specifically as it pertains to analyzing fitness equipment, if applicable.

I have been involved in metallurgy and metallurgical failure analysis since the mid-1970s. My experience has been in the failure of welds, steel bars and components, wire ropes, and cables, and wear and tear of mechanical components commonly used in exercise equipment. In my role as a registered, licensed metallurgical engineer in the state of California, I have investigated accidents and failures of exercise equipment; often these included permanent injuries. I routinely, successfully complete scores of metallurgical failures on an annual basis. The cause of the failures is the metallurgical and mechanical principles that apply to both construction, factory operation, and everyday use of machinery and metals. I present professional training to the industry on the use and selection of steel cables and wire rope. This includes the maintenance and inspection of components for their expected use. The principles regarding the operation of a cable on a rowing machine are the same as those found in machinery and industry in construction, mining, or factory use.

About the expert

This expert has over 40 years of experience in the field of metallurgy and metallurgical failure analysis, with expertise in metallurgical engineering, materials solutions, welding, and corrosion consulting in stainless steel, aluminum alloys, copper-based alloys, titanium alloys, and nickel-based alloys. He earned his BS in metallurgical engineering from California Polytechnic State University. This expert is a licensed professional engineer in metallurgy and is active in the field as a member of the American Welding Society, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the American Society for Metals. He has previously held a Level II certification in radiographic and ultrasonic testing and a Level III certification in magnetic particle, liquid penetrant, and visual testing through the American Society for Nondestructive Testing. This expert previously was a hydraulics mechanic for USMC Aircraft, a sheet metal mechanic for Rohr Corporation, a plant metallurgist for United Centrifugal Pumps, and a staff metallurgist for Sunstrand. He later worked on the Lockheed MSD engineering co-op program and EG&G Services nuclear plant construction. Currently, he serves as the owner and consulting engineer at a private metallurgy and engineering consultancy in California and has done so for the past 35 years.

E-039298

Specialties:

Materials Engineering

Celia Guo is the Vice President of Multidisciplinary Research at Expert Institute. With a background rooted in public policy and criminal justice, Celia brings a wealth of experience in data-driven legal analysis. Prior to joining The Expert Institute, she conducted research for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, focusing on drug diversion cases, and collaborated with the American Civil Liberties Union to analyze officer-involved shootings in Fresno, California. Her policy advocacy work also includes lobbying with the Drug Policy Alliance for the RISE Act, aimed at reforming sentencing enhancements for minor drug offenses.

Celia holds a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University and an M.P.P. from the University of Southern California. She combines her policy expertise with a passion for justice to lead a dynamic research team that supports litigation strategy across a wide range of practice areas.