A tragic incident has claimed the life of a 6-year-old girl during what was supposed to be an idyllic lakeside vacation in Maine, according to a lawsuit filed by her parents against Franklin Sports.
Little Lucy Morgan, described as “bubbly” and the daughter of a New Jersey pastor, was playing badminton with her 10-year-old brother on June 20, 2024, when the aluminum shaft of a Franklin Sports racket detached from its wooden handle. The metal portion struck her head and pierced her skull.
Lucy died in the hospital four days later. Her parents have sued Franklin Sports, alleging that the product was defective and unreasonably dangerous because the handle and metal stem were not adequately secured, the adhesive connecting them was faulty, and the racket lacked a secondary restraint mechanism to prevent the metal from becoming a projectile during normal use. The lawsuit also claims Franklin Sports failed to warn consumers about the risk of separation.
“This case represents a parent’s worst nightmare,” said attorney Charles P. Hehmeyer. “The Morgan family was enjoying an idyllic summer vacation in Maine when they lost Lucy due to what we allege was a dangerous and defective piece of sports equipment. We are committed to obtaining justice for Lucy by holding Franklin Sports accountable. We want to ensure these rackets are manufactured in a way where this type of tragedy never occurs again.”
Hehmeyer noted that this incident is not the first involving Franklin Sports rackets, citing a prior case in New York where a child lost an eye when the racket separated.
