NEW YORK - In a setback for plaintiffs seeking damages from computer keyboard makers, a federal judge has thrown out a $5.3 million verdict against Digital Equipment Corp. The jury verdict in December was a rare courtroom victory for sufferers of repetitive stress injuries against computer companies - and it was by far the largest award granted.
At the time, plaintiffs' lawyers hailed the verdict as a landmark, meaning keyboard makers faced a huge potential liability from the many thousands of computer users afflicted with injuries.