Table of contents
- Latest Trophyline Treestand Lawsuit Updates
- June 14, 2004: CPSC Staff Recommends Denying Tree Stand Petition
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Potential Compensation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How Often Does Trophyline Say to Inspect and Replace Saddle Gear?
- What Safety Warning Does Trophyline Give for Its HyperLite Platform?
- What Weight Does Trophyline State for the HyperLite Platform and Tree Saddle?
- What Does the Research Say About Tree Stand Falls?
- What Does CPSC Say Hunters Should Wear in a Treestand?
- Which Body Parts Are Hurt Most in Tree Stand Falls?
- References
Trophyline sells HyperLite platforms, climbing sticks and Tree Saddles for saddle hunting, and treestand falls can cause serious injury or death. From 2005 through 2007, the CPSC received reports of 41 treestand-related deaths.
As of October 2026, no recall or MDL names Trophyline. Any injury claim over Trophyline gear today would be an individual claim.
Those figures cover treestands in general and do not show that Trophyline gear caused any fall. This page covers who may be affected, what evidence to keep and how filing deadlines work.
Lawsuit at a glance
- Case or litigation name: No filed case
- 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 yet
- Main allegations: Injury claims would allege that a platform, climbing stick or saddle component failed or shifted and caused a fall; no complaint has been filed
- Products or people involved: Trophyline platforms, climbing sticks, Tree Saddles and saddle hunting kits; hunters hurt in a fall
Latest Trophyline Treestand Lawsuit Updates
June 14, 2004: CPSC Staff Recommends Denying Tree Stand Petition
On June 14, 2004, a CPSC vote sheet sent the staff’s briefing on Petition CP 02-3 to the Commission [1]. The petition sought hunting tree stand standards and a ban on waist belt restraints. Staff recommended denial.Who May Be Affected?
Hunters hurt in a fall may be affected if a Trophyline HyperLite Platform, set of climbing sticks or Tree Saddle, or a rope or connection, moved or failed. Gear that may be involved includes:- The HyperLite, Mission, EDP, Onyx and Wingman platforms
- HyperLite, Journey and Mile 2 climbing sticks
- Tree Saddles and saddle hunting kits, with ropes and carabiners
Think you may qualify?
Schmidt & Clark offers a free case review for anyone hurt in a fall involving a Trophyline platform, climbing stick or saddle, or another hunting treestand, to look at what happened and what options may be available. A review does not promise eligibility or any result.
Start My Free Case Review
Reported Injuries or Damages
CPSC’s 2004 briefing package on Petition CP 02-3 says tree stand injuries range from abrasions, contusions and lacerations to fractures and internal organ injuries. Some of these can lead to permanent disability or death. Staff identified 137 incidents from 1980 through 2001, including 62 deaths and 55 injuries. Of the 137 incidents, 54 mention tree stand failures, resulting in 6 deaths and 40 injuries. Staff estimated that 6,000 tree stand injuries were treated in emergency rooms in 2001. Of those patients, 26.0% were hospitalized or transferred, and fractures were the most common type, at 44%. These figures cover tree stands in general. CPSC’s Hunting Treestands and Harnesses publication reports 41 treestand-related deaths from 2005 through 2007 [3]. CPSC staff estimate about 19,000 treestand-related injuries in the same period. Many incidents occur while hunters step onto or from the platform, CPSC says. Staff also noted that some falls may be due to circumstances that do not include failure of the tree stands.Evidence to Preserve
Retired gear can still matter, so keep it. Trophyline’s retirement instructions say a saddle, rope and carabiners must be retired after any fall. Keep these items:- The platform, climbing sticks or saddle with every part, including any broken piece and the sewn-on warning label, left unrepaired
- Photographs of the tree, the setup and the point where the gear failed, taken as soon as possible
- The purchase receipt or order email, and the product page as it read when you bought the gear
- The instruction manual and any warning materials that came with the platform, sticks or saddle
- Medical records and bills, plus pay records for any time missed from work
- Names and contact details of witnesses or hunting partners who were there that day
- Phone, camera or GPS data that shows where you were and when the fall happened
Filing Deadlines
State law sets the filing deadline for a product-related injury claim. The deadline depends on where the person lives and when the injury and the equipment failure happened. A claim can end once the applicable deadline passes, however strong the facts are. The date of the fall is worth writing down. Anyone considering a claim over a fall involving Trophyline gear should speak with a lawyer promptly, because the clock may already be running.Potential Compensation
A claim over an injury from a fall, if one is brought, may seek damages for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation, if any, would come from a settlement or a court judgment.Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Does Trophyline Say to Inspect and Replace Saddle Gear?
Trophyline says to inspect saddle gear before and after every use and to replace it on a schedule. The saddle expires 5 years from its manufacture date. Ropes, prusiks and carabiners should be replaced every 2 years.What Safety Warning Does Trophyline Give for Its HyperLite Platform?
Trophyline’s HyperLite Platform page carries a safety warning. It says not to jump on the platform or climbing sticks and advises against a Toe Cam or Toe Hook. It also says to use the Lineman’s and Tree Tether when leaving the ground.What Weight Does Trophyline State for the HyperLite Platform and Tree Saddle?
Trophyline states a 300 lb weight limit for the HyperLite Platform. The sewn-on label on a Tree Saddle also lists a weight capacity of 300 lbs. These are the company’s own statements, not independent findings.What Does the Research Say About Tree Stand Falls?
Research on tree stand falls includes a Deer & Deer Hunting reader survey quoted by CPSC staff in 2004. The survey concluded that the most common reason for falls was some type of structural failure. That survey was non-statistical, and CPSC did not make the finding.What Does CPSC Say Hunters Should Wear in a Treestand?
CPSC says hunters in a treestand should wear a full-body harness used as the manufacturer instructs, during ascent and descent. It warns that a single-strap or waist harness can cause strangulation in a fall and that a harness should be replaced after a fall.Which Body Parts Are Hurt Most in Tree Stand Falls?
The body parts hurt most in tree stand injuries were the shoulder or trunk (41%) and the leg or foot (33%). That is based on 2001 emergency room data reviewed by CPSC staff. By type, strain or sprain made up 21% and contusions or abrasions 19%.References
- https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Briefing_Package-Petition_CP_02-3;_Hunting_Tree_Stand_Petition-06.14.2004.pdf
- https://www.trophyline.com/pages/inspections-retirement
- https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/blk_pdf_5200.pdf