ST. LOUIS – A former Cutco Stores worker is suing the company over allegations of negligence and strict liability after his kidney was damaged when he was punctured by one of the knives in his sales bag.

Aaron Jackson filed a lawsuit on Nov. 2 at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against Cutco Stores Inc. and Vector Marketing Inc., alleging the sales bag was in dangerous condition as designed.

The complaint states on Nov. 3, 2013, Jackson, who was working as an independent contractor, was wearing a soft black sales bag provided by the defendants to carry knives to show customers. As he entered his vehicle, he alleges one of the knives cut through the bag and punctured his right side. He alleges it caused severe and permanent injuries.

As stated in the complaint, "the only protection between plaintiff and the razor-sharp knives, provided by defendant Cutco, and its wholly owned subsidiary Vector, was cardboard sheaths that cover the blades and the soft black sales bag."

Jackson alleges he suffered serious damage, including severe injuries to his right kidney, which required surgery and removal. He also claims lost wages and medical bills, as well as allegations that the company did not provide with any warnings or on how to safely use the sales bag for customer display or provide any proper design, assembly, installation, or inspection of the same bag.

He is seeking damages of more than $75,000, in addition to court costs, attorneys' fees and other expenses that the court deems proper. Jackson is also asking for a jury trial.

Jackson is represented by attorneys Michael Dalton Jr., James O'Leary, and James Corrigan of O'Leary, Shelton, Corrigan, Peterson, Dalton & Quillin LLC of St. Louis.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri case number 4:18-cv-01874