Man Files Lawsuit Over Wife’s Death in Explosion
A year after his wife died in an explosion at a toy factory, a Pasadena man filed a $50,000 lawsuit against the company and two overseas firms.
Juana Martinez, 33, died last Nov. 5 after a machine that packages caps for play pistols exploded at the Imperial Toy Corp. The blast killed four workers, blowing shattered glass and debris into the street.
Martinez’s lawsuit claims the companies knew or should have known that the machine that exploded was defective.
Jose Martinez names Imperial Toy, Ruey Bin Machinery Industry Co. of Taiwan and Sohni-Wicke Amorces of Germany in the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court this week.
A spokesperson for Imperial Toy could not be reached for comment.
Fire officials said last year the toy factory was in compliance with fire safety codes before the blast.
The company makes more than 600 types of toys, including marbles, soap bubbles, jump ropes, balls and soldiers. Imperial Toy was licensed to produce toys for Universal Studios, Pepsi, Kawasaki and the Walt Disney Co., among others.
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