Family Tradition Treestands (also written Family Traditions) makes ladder stands, tripods, lock-on stands and accessories in Charlotte, Michigan. The company says it was established in 1992 and that its stands are made 100% in the USA.
Each hunting season, CPSC says, falls from treestands kill or seriously hurt hunters. CPSC also says most treestand-related incidents can be prevented with proper use of a full-body harness.
As of October 2026, no lawsuit, class action or MDL names the company, and no CPSC or Treestand Manufacturers’ Association recall covers its stands. No complaint or regulator finding says a Family Tradition stand was defective.
- Case or litigation name: No case names Family Tradition Treestands
- Defendants: None named
- Court and docket number, when available: No filed case
- MDL number, judge, and case count, when an MDL exists: No MDL
- Filing date: No filing
- Main allegations: None – no complaint or agency finding alleges a defect in a Family Tradition stand
- Products or people involved: Stands made by Family Tradition Treestands, none tied to a case: ladder stands (LD14, DD14, LD360), tripods (TRI 18, 2-person), the HD/HO lock-on stand and HOL/20 ladder sections
Table Of Contents
Latest Family Traditions Treestand Lawsuit Updates
September 24, 2021: Henry Ford Health Publishes Tree Stand Injury Study
A Henry Ford Health study reviewed the records of 33 tree stand injury patients at a Michigan trauma center, published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine [1]. Spinal injuries were most common (33%), then lower extremity fractures (15%).
November 23, 2015: Marshfield Clinic Reports on Wisconsin Tree Stand Falls
Marshfield Clinic researchers released a Wisconsin study of deer hunters, published in the journal Injury [2]. It counted about 5 medically attended tree stand falls per 10,000 hunters per year in 2009-2013.
The study covered about 16,700 deer hunters in each of five seasons. Structural failures, such as broken stand parts, were reported in 18% of falls. The release calls tree stand falls the biggest risk that whitetail deer hunters face.
Who May Be Affected?
Hunters hurt in a fall from a Family Tradition Treestands ladder stand, tripod, lock-on stand or ladder sections may be affected. CPSC Pub. #5200 says many incidents occur while hunters step onto or from a treestand’s platform [3].
Family Tradition stands include the HD/HO Lock On Tree Stand, LD14 Deluxe Ladder Stand, DD14 Double Seat Ladder Stand, LD360 Swivel Seat Ladder Stand, TRI 18 Single Tripod Stand and 2-Person Tripod Stand [4].
The HOL/20 Lock-On Ladder Sections reach 20 feet and carry a maximum hunter weight of 300 lbs [5]. Whether a claim exists depends on each fall, so an individual legal review is needed.
Reported Injuries or Damages
CPSC Pub. #5200 lists 41 treestand-related deaths reported to CPSC from 2005 through 2007, and CPSC staff estimated about 19,000 treestand-related injuries in the same period. These figures describe treestands in general, not Family Tradition stands.
Prolonged suspension in a harness can result in trauma or death, so carry a cell phone or other means of emergency communication. The Treestand Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) is a nonprofit group that promotes treestand safety.
The Henry Ford study found an average yearly case rate of 5.73 per 10,000 hunters in the study area. Its authors note tree stand injuries are more common than firearm injuries in hunters.
The Marshfield release says tree stand falls are often very serious, including paralysis, traumatic brain injury, or death. Documentation of why patients fall was sparse. These are regulator reports and medical findings, not complaint allegations.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep anything that shows how the stand failed and how the fall happened:
- The stand and any failed parts, such as straps, chains, cables, ladder sections, welds or locking points, kept as they are and not repaired or thrown away.
- The model decal, serial number and warning labels, photographed and kept with the stand itself.
- The purchase record, the owner’s manual and the packaging the stand came in.
- Photographs of the stand, the tree and the exact point of failure, taken before anything is moved.
- The harness and any gear worn or carried, even after a replacement is bought, since CPSC says a harness should be replaced after a fall.
- Medical and emergency treatment records from the day of the fall onward.
- Names and statements of witnesses, and the date, time and place of the fall.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines for an injury claim come from state law. They depend on where you live and when the fall and the injury happened.
Missing a deadline can end a claim altogether, even when the facts are strong and the injuries were serious. If you were hurt in a treestand fall, check with a lawyer promptly about the deadline that applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Stands Does Family Tradition Treestands Make?
Family Tradition Treestands makes four product groups: ladder stands, tripods, lock-on stands with ladders, and accessories. The HOL/20 lock-on ladder is delivered in five 4-foot sections and reaches 20 feet in height.
Has Family Tradition Treestands Recalled Any Stands?
Family Tradition Treestands has not recalled any stands. CPSC recalls of other treestand brands since 2020 include Summit Viper Level PRO SD (December 1, 2022), Big Game The Captain (December 22, 2021) and Alliance Outdoor Products climbing treestands (November 4, 2020).
What Does the Research Say About Tree Stand Falls?
Research on tree stand falls includes a Wisconsin study by Marshfield Clinic and the National Farm Medicine Center, which counted 39 medically attended fall injuries from 2009 through 2013. At a Michigan trauma center, 67% of tree stand injury patients from 2015 through 2019 were admitted.
What Harness Should I Wear in a Treestand?
A treestand harness should be a full-body harness approved by the TMA. CPSC’s December 2008 publication says not to use a single-strap or waist-type harness, which can cause strangulation in a fall. Wear it during ascent and descent, and inspect the stand and harness before each use.
References
- https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/emergencymedicine_articles/241
- https://www.marshfieldresearch.org/News/falls-from-tree-stands-not-declining-for-deer-hunters-wisconsin-study
- https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/5200.pdf
- https://ultramaticfeeders.com/product-category/blinds-towers/family-traditions-treestands/
- https://dancessportinggoods.com/family-traditions-treestands-lock-on-ladder-sections-20/