Wawa ordered to turn over records in trash compactor-injury suit

Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge G. Michael Green has ordered Wawa Inc. to supply records to a Lansdowne man alleging claims against two waste disposal companies after having his arm crushed by a trash compactor.

Patrick Adams is alleging three claims for negligence, strict liability and failure to warn against Waste Away Systems LLC and Advanced Hydraulic Systems Inc. in a complaint filed in the county last January.

Adams says he was using a trash compactor/bailer at the Woodlyn Wawa on Feb. 3, 2015. He was required to put his arm inside the machine to secure a strap in order to operate the machine, according to the suit.

The machine allegedly malfunctioned and began operating while Adams still had his arm inside. Despite hitting a “stop” button several times, Adams says the machine continued to operate and crushed his left arm.

The suit claims the machine was in a defective condition and caused serious injuries from which Adams might never recover. He is seeking damages upwards of $50,000.

Adams says the machine was stripped and cleaned immediately after his injury and that he did not have the ability to inspect it. He believes the machine was to be serviced and inspected by Waste Away Systems.

Wawa is not a party to the suit, but Adams says the company might have a contract or other records that define the roles and responsibilities between Wawa and Waste Away Systems. He served Wawa with two subpoenas on April 20 and June 21, 2017, seeking maintenance and repair orders, cleaning logs, other injuries or near-misses associated with the machine and additional information, according to a Jan. 19 contempt petition filed with the court.

Green granted the petition to compel Wawa to provide that information to Adams March 8. Wawa did not respond to an emailed request for comment.