I.B.M. cleared by jury in a stress injury case; trial in Minnesota drew wide interest

Article Abstract:

IBM has been found not liable in a repetitive stress injury (RSI) suit filed by a Minnesota secretary who used IBM and Apple Macintosh microcomputers and keyboards to perform her job. The case filed by Nancy Urbanski had been followed closely by both office equipment manufacturers and attorneys for clerical workers who believe that poorly designed data entry devices have led to a rise in a variety of RSI disorders in the workplace. The jury in the Minnesota case took less than four hours to find that IBM was not liable for Urbanski's injuries. Apple had previously negotiated a settlement with Urbanski after it was discovered that Apple attorneys failed to turn over evidence during the discovery process. Under Minnesota law, however, the jury was still obligated to decide whether Apple would have been partially liable for Urbanski's injuries had that part of the lawsuit gone forward. The jury found both Apple and IBM not to be responsible for Urbanski's RSI difficulties.

International Business Machines Corp., IBM, AAPL, Apple Inc., Repetitive stress injury, Computer design, Lawsuit Litigation

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Dispute over new wrinkle in problem of Year 2000

Article Abstract:

A reported Year 2000 timekeeping problem has generated disagreement among computer users, corporate users and consultants. The controversy started in Aug 1997, when Professor Jace Crouch of Michigan-based Oakland University and Canadian programmer Michael Echlin predicted uncertainty for the Year 2000's onset as well as range. The so-called Crouch-Echlin Effect, time dilation (T.D.) reportedly impacts mostly older computers. Other reports have linked the Year 2000 flaw to certain recent IBM clones, an Apple Macintosh and various electronic machinery. Crouch in 1997 tested his office computer's transition to the year 2000 by advancing it to Dec 31, 1999. Problems did not occur until several weeks after the initial rollover. Echlin and other testers then reported various anomalies when using the same testing method. Opponents criticized Crouch and Echlin for forming a small company that sells PC timekeeping products, accusing them of alarmism.

United States, General services, Safety and security measures, Year 2000 transition (Computers), Year 2000 transition

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Apple settles lawsuit on repetitive stress injury

Article Abstract:

Apple settles a lawsuit filed in Minnesota by Nancy Urbanski, a former secretary who alleged that clerical work she performed on an Apple microcomputer keyboard caused her to suffer repetitive stress injuries (RSI). The settlement was finalized on Feb 24, 1995 and largely came about because of a procedural error by Apple's outside counsel Saperston and Day. It appears that the law firm failed to turn over 40 potentially damaging documents to Urbanski's attorneys during the pre-trial discovery process. The parties to the suit declined to reveal exact figures, but officials for Levy Phillips and Konigsberg, the law firm that represents Urbanski and over 2,000 other individuals in similar RSI cases, stated that the settlement was much larger than previous settlements. Urbanski is still involved with a lawsuit against IBM involving the same RSI injuries.

Litigation, Lawsuit/litigation, Medical Issues

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