A Family Vacation Turned Tragic After a Badminton Racket Broke — Now They’re Suing the Manufacturer

BichDuong
September 2, 2026

A Family Vacation Turned Tragic After a Badminton Racket Broke — Now They’re Suing the Manufacturer

A peaceful family vacation in Maine ended in an unimaginable tragedy in 2024, and more than two years later, the family of six-year-old Lucy Morgan has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the badminton racket involved.

The Morgan family had traveled from New Jersey to Limerick, Maine, for what was supposed to be a relaxing getaway. On June 1, 2024, during the final day of their vacation, Lucy was near a rental cottage while her older siblings played badminton outside.

According to Maine State Police and the family’s recently filed lawsuit, a badminton racket being used by Lucy’s 10-year-old brother suddenly came apart during an ordinary swing. The metal shaft separated from the wooden handle and traveled through the air, striking Lucy.

She suffered a catastrophic head injury and was rushed for emergency medical treatment. Four days later, on June 5, 2024, Lucy died.

Now, the Morgan family is taking legal action against Franklin Sports, the company that manufactured the racket.

A Vacation That Changed Everything

According to reports from PEOPLE, Maine Public, and other news organizations, the family had been enjoying their last day at a lakeside vacation property in Limerick when the children decided to play badminton.

Lucy was not the person swinging the racket. She was nearby while her siblings played.

The lawsuit says that during a swing, the racket’s head and metal stem became separated from the handle. The detached metal portion struck Lucy in the temple and penetrated her skull.

The family immediately sought medical help.

Lucy was first transported to a medical facility in Sanford before being airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Doctors performed emergency surgery in an effort to treat the devastating injury.

Despite those efforts, Lucy did not recover. She died four days after the accident.

Maine Public reported that the lawsuit was filed in York County Superior Court and alleges that the racket was defective in its design and manufacture. (Maine Public)

Why Is the Family Suing Franklin Sports?

The Morgan family’s lawsuit is a wrongful-death and product-liability case.

The complaint alleges that the racket’s handle and metal stem were not adequately secured. Attorneys for the family claim the adhesive connecting the components was defective or insufficient and that the racket lacked a secondary restraint that could have prevented the metal shaft from separating and traveling through the air.

The lawsuit also alleges that consumers were not adequately warned about the possibility that the racket could separate during ordinary use.

These are allegations made by the plaintiffs and have not been established as facts by a court.

The family is asking for damages permitted under Maine law, including funeral expenses, financial losses, emotional distress, and loss of Lucy’s companionship and presence in their lives. The complaint also seeks punitive damages. (People.com)

No specific dollar amount has been publicly identified in the lawsuit.

Attorneys Say They Want More Than Compensation

The family’s attorneys say the lawsuit is also about preventing another family from experiencing something similar.

Attorney Travis Brennan described the case as a parent’s worst nightmare and said the family wants Franklin Sports held accountable for what they allege was a preventable product failure.

Another attorney representing the family, Charles P. Hehmeyer, has raised questions about whether Franklin Sports was previously aware of a similar problem.

According to statements reported by The Boston Globe and WMTW, the attorneys say there had been an earlier incident in New York involving a child who suffered a serious eye injury after a badminton racket separated.

The lawyers argue that the earlier incident should have prompted additional safety measures.

That allegation will be an important issue if the case moves forward, because proving that a manufacturer knew or should have known about a potential product hazard can be significant in product-liability litigation. (BostonGlobe.com)

Franklin Sports Responds

Franklin Sports has now responded publicly to the lawsuit.

The company expressed sympathy for Lucy’s family and others affected by the incident but said it could not discuss the specific allegations because the litigation is pending.

The company also said it takes concerns involving its products seriously, remains committed to product quality and safety, and is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Importantly, Franklin Sports has not admitted liability, and there has been no court ruling finding the company legally responsible for Lucy’s death. (BostonGlobe.com)

That distinction is important because the lawsuit represents the family’s allegations. The legal process will determine whether those claims are ultimately proven.

The Emotional Impact on Lucy’s Family

The lawsuit also describes the profound emotional impact the incident had on Lucy’s family.

According to reports, Lucy’s three siblings witnessed what happened. The complaint says they suffered severe emotional distress as a result.

Lucy’s father, Jesse Morgan, previously wrote about the family’s experience after the 2024 tragedy. He described how the family had been enjoying a peaceful morning before suddenly hearing screams.

The family had expected to return home from Maine with memories of a summer vacation.

Instead, they returned without their six-year-old daughter.

The loss has continued to affect the family long after the original incident, and the lawsuit now places the tragedy in a legal context as attorneys examine whether the equipment involved was properly designed, manufactured and tested.

What Happens Next?

Because the lawsuit was filed only recently, the case is still in its early stages.

The court will eventually have to consider evidence relating to the racket’s design, manufacturing process, materials, testing, warnings and the circumstances surrounding the failure.

The case could also examine the family’s allegations regarding an earlier incident involving a similar racket.

At this stage, there has been no final judgment, no finding of liability and no announced settlement.

The Morgan family’s lawsuit therefore represents the beginning of a legal process rather than its conclusion.

For the family, however, the case is about much more than a courtroom dispute.

Lucy was six years old when she went on vacation with her parents and siblings. A simple recreational activity that appeared completely ordinary became a devastating family tragedy.

Now, more than two years later, her parents are asking whether the incident truly had to happen — and whether changes to the design or safety of the equipment could help ensure another family never faces the same kind of loss.

The case against Franklin Sports will ultimately be decided through the legal system. But Lucy Morgan’s story has already drawn renewed attention to an issue many families rarely consider when purchasing or using everyday recreational equipment: even products designed for simple family fun must be manufactured, tested and used with safety in mind.