A six-year-old girl from New Jersey died from catastrophic injuries sustained during a family vacation in Maine when a badminton racket separated, sending its aluminum shaft flying into her skull, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Massachusetts-based Franklin Sports. The tragedy, which occurred in June 2024, has prompted the grieving family to pursue legal action in York County, Maine, alleging that the equipment was dangerously defective and lacked basic safety precautions.
The Incident at a Lakeside Rental Cottage in Limerick
Lucy Morgan was visiting Maine alongside her parents, Jesse and Bethany Morgan, and her three siblings—Silas, Shiloh, and Atticus—for a summer getaway. According to the complaint filed in York County, the family was staying at a cottage on North Shore Drive in Limerick, where a badminton set had been provided for guests. On their final full day of vacation, the children were playing outside on the property while their parents relaxed nearby. According to Maine State Police, Lucy suffered an unintentional injury involving her 10-year-old brother. Investigators determined that the aluminum shaft of the racket he was swinging suddenly dislodged from its wooden handle during a downward swing. The metal piece detached and traveled through the air, striking Lucy in the head while she sat on the sidelines.
Medical Response and Hospitalization in Portland
Emergency services rushed Lucy to a local hospital before she was airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Medical teams performed emergency surgery, removing a portion of her skull to alleviate severe pressure caused by the impact. During the operation, Lucy flatlined; although doctors managed to revive her, her father later explained that the metal shaft had penetrated deeply into her brain and triggered immediate arterial bleeding. Having lost brain function and the ability to breathe independently, Lucy succumbed to her injuries at approximately 4:00 AM on June 5, 2024. Her family subsequently made the 350-mile drive back to New Jersey without her.
Allegations and Legal Claims Against Franklin Sports
The wrongful death complaint, filed on Monday, targets Franklin Sports over the manufacturing and design of the equipment. According to the lawsuit, the racket featured defective adhesive connecting the aluminum stem to the wooden handle and lacked any secondary restraint, such as a pin, to keep the shaft attached if the primary bond failed. Charles P. Hehmeyer of the law firm Berman & Simmons, representing the Morgan family, stated that a child in New York had previously lost an eye to a Franklin badminton racket, asserting that the company chose not to incorporate a simple pin into the handle that would have cost pennies. The lawsuit seeks damages for funeral expenses, pecuniary loss, emotional distress, and the loss of comfort, society, and companionship. Franklin Sports did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the filing.
