DEC Granted Hearing on RSI Case

A U.S. District Court judge in New York granted Digital Equipment Corp.’s request for a hearing to reduce a $5.93-million jury award to three women claiming injuries from repeated use of the company’s keyboards. The hearing is expected later this month or in early February. A federal jury on Dec. 4 found that the Maynard, Mass.-based firm failed to warn the claimants about injuries they could suffer from repeated use of Digital’s LK 201 keyboards. It was the first jury award for people claiming injuries from repeated keyboard use. Judge Jack Weinstein said that when Digital argues to reduce the award, it should have its attorneys compare jury awards against manufacturers for similar injuries.