Ol’ Man Treestand Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Ol’ Man treestands were named in two federal safety recalls, and Ol’ Man Tree Stands was a defendant in one Indiana lawsuit. The recalls, in 2004 and 2007, involved a bending blade and locking pins that could come out. Both notices warned of fall injuries. The lawsuit, filed in 2006, alleged that a tree stand malfunctioned and a husband died after a fall. A jury awarded $157 million in 2009 at a trial no defendant attended. No class action, MDL or settlement has been found for Ol’ Man stands. The reported case was an individual lawsuit, and the Associated Press report does not say its stand was a recalled model.

Latest Ol’ Man Treestand Lawsuit Updates

February 20, 2009: Jury Verdict Reported in Indiana Tree Stand Case

Law360 reported a jury verdict of $157 million in an Indiana state court. A woman’s husband died after falling from an allegedly defective tree stand [1]. The Associated Press report named L & L Enterprises, Ol’ Man Tree Stands and TSR Inc. as defendants [2]. None appeared at trial. It does not say whether the award was later appealed, reduced or paid.

July 17, 2007: TSR Inc. Recalls Ol’ Man Treestands over Locking Pins

TSR Inc. recalled about 9,000 Ol’ Man treestands and about 500 replacement pin sets with the CPSC. The notice, CPSC recall 07-233, says the locking pins can come out unexpectedly [3]. TSR reported five cases of pins coming out, including four injuries from falls. The notice offered free replacement pins. It says the stands were made in China and sold at hunting supply stores.

January 5, 2004: Ol’ Man Tree Stands Recalls Climbing Stands over Bending Blade

Ol’ Man Tree Stands recalled 1,775 climbing tree stands with CPSC because a serrated blade that supports the stand on a tree can bend. The notice is CPSC recall 04-530 [4]. The company reported five blade reports and no injuries. CPSC told owners to stop using stands stamped 1903 or 2103 and discard them. The notice says the firm was out of business and no remedy was available.

Who May Be Affected?

People who own or used an Ol’ Man climbing stand with 1903 or 2103 stamped on the blades are covered by the 2004 notice. The stands sold from June 2003 through November 2003 for between $160 and $270. The 2004 models were the Original Ol’ Man Double X (OMDX-MO), Grand Ol’ Man Double X (GOMDX-MO), Multi-Vision (MV-MO) and Grand Multi-Vision (GMV-MO). The 2007 notice covered 2006 stands stamped “TSR 06” under the teeth plates, plus the 2006 Ol’ Man Replacement Pin Set, model PL. They sold from August 2006 through January 2007. The 2007 stands carried one of these date codes: 6018, 6019, 6020, 6021, 6022, 6027, 6028, 6029, 6030, 6032, 6033, 6034, 6035, 6036, 6037 or 6041. Recalled 2007 models were MV-MO, GMV-MO, OMDX-MO, GOMDX-MO, AMVP-MO, AGMVP-MO, AOMP-MO and AGOMP-MO. The pins secure the cables that connect the treestand to a tree. Hunters hurt in a fall from an Ol’ Man stand, and families of hunters killed in a tree stand fall as in the 2006 Indiana suit, may need an individual legal review.

Reported Injuries or Damages

The same Associated Press report says Carol Simonton of Lafayette, Ind., sued in February 2006. Her 42-year-old husband had been found hanging from a tree about four months earlier. Her suit blamed a malfunctioning tree stand for the death. Her complaint sought $6,000 for funeral expenses and $1.5 million for lost wages over 30 years. A registered agent for L & L Enterprises said he was unaware the company had been sued and had not been involved with it for about a year. These are allegations and a reported verdict, not findings by a regulator. For hunters in general, the CPSC safety publication Hunting Treestands and Harnesses says hunters are killed or seriously injured in falls every hunting season [5]. From 2005 through 2007, 41 treestand-related deaths were reported to CPSC, and staff estimate about 19,000 treestand-related injuries. Many occur while hunters step onto or from the platform. A 2004 CPSC staff briefing on Petition CP 02-3 counted 137 incidents involving tree stands from 1980 through 2001, including 62 deaths and 55 injuries [6]. These are general figures, not Ol’ Man counts.

Recall and Regulatory Background

The 2004 recall came from the maker, Ol’ Man Tree Stands. The 2007 recall came from TSR Inc., the importer and distributor. A recall does not by itself prove liability. In 2012 Hunting Solutions, maker of Millennium treestands, announced it was adding the Ol’ Man line [7]. The JPML Pending MDL Dockets report lists no treestand docket [8].

Evidence to Preserve

A recalled stand should be taken out of use as its notice says, but keep these items as they are before any disposal:

• The stand and every part, such as cables, pins, blades, straps and the seat.
• Close-up photographs of every stamp and date code on the stand or pin set.
• The safety harness and strap as worn, even though CPSC says a harness should be replaced after a fall.
• Photographs of the stand, the tree and the setup before anything is moved.
• The receipt, order record or listing, and the manual that came with the stand.
• Any recall notice, email or other message you received about the stand.
• Medical records and emergency treatment records for any injury from the fall.
• Names of witnesses and your own notes on the date, place and weather.

Filing Deadlines

Filing deadlines come from state law. They differ with where you live and when the fall, the injury or the death happened. If a deadline passes, a claim can end however strong the facts are. A person who may have a claim should ask a lawyer promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There an Ol’ Man Treestand Lawsuit?

Yes, an Ol’ Man treestand lawsuit is on record: an Indiana case that named Ol’ Man Tree Stands as a defendant. The plaintiff’s attorney said he suggested $100 million in closing and did not know how jurors reached $157 million.

What Was the Ol’ Man Treestand Recall About?

The Ol’ Man treestand recalls were about fall risks, first from a serrated blade in 2004 and then from locking pins in 2007. The 2004 stands had a mesh net seat. The 2007 stands sold for between $100 and $400, and the pin sets for between $10 and $14.

What Should I Do with a Recalled Ol’ Man Treestand?

With a recalled Ol’ Man treestand, take it out of use as its notice says, keep it unaltered before any disposal and do not donate or resell it. To report a dangerous product or an injury, use SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC at 800-638-2772.

What Does the Research Say About Treestand Falls?

The research on treestand falls includes the CPSC staff briefing on Petition CP 02-3, dated June 14, 2004, which estimated that 6,000 injuries attributed to tree stand use were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2001.

Are Ol’ Man Treestands Still Sold?

Yes, Ol’ Man treestands are still sold, including ladder stands, climber stands and climbing sticks, on the current Ol’ Man site, which links Product Manuals and Safety Information pages. The recall notices cover only the stamped stands and date codes listed above.

References

1. https://www.law360.com/articles/88266
2. https://amp.claimsjournal.com/news/midwest/2009/02/20/98053.htm
3. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2007/ol-man-treestands-recalled-by-tsr-inc-locking-pins-can-unexpectedly-fall-out-posing-a
4. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2004/cpsc-ol-man-treestands-announce-recall-of-hunting-tree-stands
5. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/blk_pdf_5200.pdf
6. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Briefing_Package-Petition_CP_02-3;_Hunting_Tree_Stand_Petition-06.14.2004.pdf
7. https://www.outdoorhub.com/?p=63450
8. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_MDL_Number-September-1-2026.pdf