Manufacturing giant Caterpillar denies a skid loader it produces is defective

Company sued after fire on South Dakota farm destroyed machine

Caterpillar Inc. is denying that a skid loader it produces is defective following a fire that took place on a South Dakota farm.

Selle Farms in Bonesteel, South Dakota sued the manufacturing giant, alleging the skid loader it bought in March of 2021 from North Dakota based Butler Machinery Co. was defective and improperly designed.

A year later, in March of 2022, the skid loader was being operated in a field in Gregory County when it caught on fire. The machine was a total loss, resulting in more than $117,000 in damages.

“Caterpillar is strictly liable to Selle Farms for designing, manufacturing, supplying and placing on the market for use a skid loader with defects making it unreasonably dangerous,” the lawsuit says.

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