April Thompson has taken legal action against a foreign manufacturer and a prominent retail chain, alleging that a defective ladder caused her serious injuries. On February 28, 2025, April Thompson filed a complaint in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, against Jiangsu Yingdeli Industrial Co., Inc., Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc., and Harbor Freight Tools Corporate, LLC.
The case centers around an incident on April 27, 2023, when Thompson was using a "Franklin" brand 17-foot multi-task ladder she purchased from a Harbor Freight store in Conroe, Texas. According to the lawsuit, while using the ladder as instructed to install wallpaper, one of the rungs broke under her weight, causing her to fall and sustain injuries. The plaintiff claims that the ladder was defectively designed and manufactured by Jiangsu Yingdeli Industrial Co., Inc., which is based in China. She further alleges that Harbor Freight Tools USA played a significant role in designing and distributing the product in question.
Thompson's lawsuit accuses the defendants of strict liability for placing a defective product into the market. The complaint outlines how both Jiangsu and Harbor Freight are considered manufacturers under Texas law due to their involvement in designing or manufacturing parts of the ladder. The plaintiff asserts that Harbor Freight failed to provide adequate warnings or instructions regarding potential defects or risks associated with using the ladder. She also highlights discrepancies between the advertised weight capacity of the ladder and its actual performance.
In addition to strict liability claims, Thompson is pursuing negligence charges against all defendants for failing to ensure that the ladder was safe for consumer use. She argues that they did not adequately test or inspect the product before selling it. Furthermore, she contends that Harbor Freight breached implied warranties by selling goods that were not fit for their intended purpose.
Representing April Thompson is attorney Michael Stanley from Stanley Law Firm. The case has been assigned Case ID 2025-13925 and will be presided over by Judge Patricia Jones at Harris County's 152nd District Court.