Family sues after 6-year-old girl dies when badminton racket shaft pierces skull
Maine Court to Hear Lawsuit Over Badminton Racket That Killed New Jersey Girl
A Maine family is suing Franklin Sports, a Massachusetts‑based maker of sporting‑equipment, after their 6‑year‑old daughter, Lucy Morgan, was killed when a badminton racket she was playing with broke apart and struck her in the head. The lawsuit claims the racket’s design was defective and that the company failed to warn consumers of the danger.
The incident occurred on June 1, 2024, while the Morgan family was vacationing at a rented cottage in Limerick, Maine. Lucy, who lived in New Jersey, was playing badminton with her older brother, 10, in the front yard. According to Maine State Police, the aluminum shaft of the racket became dislodged from the wooden handle and flew into Lucy’s skull, causing a fatal brain injury. The girl was taken to Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford and then air‑lifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she died on June 5.
Attorney Charles P. Hehmeyer, who represents the Morgan family, described the case as “a parent’s worst nightmare” and said that the incident happened “during what we allege was a dangerous and defective piece of sports equipment.” He also noted that Franklin Sports had a previous incident in New York in which a child lost an eye when a racket broke apart, and that the company reportedly did not correct the design problem.
The complaint alleges that the racket’s handle and metal shaft were not secured properly, that the adhesive joining the pieces was defective or insufficient, and that the design lacked a secondary restraint that could have prevented the metal portion from flying free. The family claims Franklin Sports failed to warn consumers about the risk and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, funeral expenses, emotional distress, loss of comfort, society and companionship, and other relief allowed under Maine law.
Lucy’s three siblings, who witnessed the incident, suffered “severe emotional distress,” according to the complaint. Her parents heard her scream and ran to her side, the documents say. The lawsuit also notes that the family’s 10‑year‑old brother was playing outside when the shaft detached.
In a statement released through its spokesperson, Franklin Sports expressed “deepest sympathies” to the Morgan family and said it “takes product‑safety concerns very seriously.” The company declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit, citing pending litigation, but affirmed its commitment to product quality and safety and that it was reviewing the incident.
Jesse Morgan, the family’s pastor‑father, has spoken publicly about his faith during the grieving process. He told reporters that a friend returned Lucy’s backpack after the family returned home from Maine; inside was a prayer journal that had been given to her a month before her death. He said the journal was a “beautiful gift” amid the loss.
The lawsuit has been filed in Maine state court, and the case is scheduled to go before a judge in the coming months. The outcome will determine whether Franklin Sports is held liable for the tragic death of Lucy Morgan.