While employees were moving a $1.4 million IBM server from a trailer into T.R. System’s warehouse in Alexandria, Va. last October, the rear wheels of the lift truck “hit the raised surface at the entry door of the warehouse.” That caused the lift truck – and the server it was carrying – to rock. The server subsequently fell off the lift truck and was damaged.
That’s according to papers filed in U.S. District Court last month by T.R. Systems, a federal contractor. The server was going to be delivered to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
“As a result of the rocking motion, the base of the pallet and the crate broke, and the crate fell onto the curb, damaging the server packed inside," the company added.
T.R. Systems claimed it was forced to purchase a replacement server from IBM because the computer manufacturer refused to take back the damaged server or send technicians to repair it.
"The damage sustained by T.R. Systems was due to the poor workmanship and/or defective packaging design and methods used by IBM," read the court account. T.R. Systems claimed IBM neglected to pack the server into a palletized crate strong enough to support the height and weight of the server. In a statement, IBM officials said, "we will defend ourselves vigorously.”
The contractor is seeking more than $1.4 million in damages.
