$1M settlement reached in forklift injury lawsuit

Advertiser Staff

A 38-year-old man whose leg was crushed by a forklift at a Campbell Industrial Park auto wrecking yard in October 2001 has settled a lawsuit against yard owner Michael Cunningham for $1 million.

Attorney Jan Weinberg, who represented Dan Easterday, said his client has received a check from the company that insured Leeward Auto Recycling at the time of the accident.

Weinberg said Easterday had a "verbal agreement" with Cunningham to use a portion of the wrecking yard to repair "muscle cars" for resale. Easterday was injured after he stepped off a 1984 forklift to help another man and the forklift reversed into him, nearly severing the leg, Weinberg said.

Cunningham and his attorney could not be reached to comment.