Former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, center, sits in a wheelchair in court, Thursday, March 28, 2019, in Las Vegas. Reid testified in his negligence lawsuit against the maker of an exercise device. (AP Photo/John Locher)
March 29, 2019 - 11:09 AM
LAS VEGAS - Former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid has testified that his political career was cut short by a 2015 eye injury that he blames on an exercise band maker.
The 79-year-old longtime Democratic leader told a jury hearing his lawsuit Friday that his eye and face injuries were "the main factor" in not seeking a sixth Senate term in 2016.
Reid told jurors Thursday that he spun and fell face-first against cabinets in his bathroom when a flexible TheraBand device he'd looped around a shower door handle slipped from his grip as he exercised.
A company lawyer says Reid misused the device and the company isn't at fault.
Reid is suing Ohio-based Hygenic Corp. for damages. He claims civil negligence and failure to warn the public that the device is dangerous.
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This story has been corrected to show that Reid also testified Thursday.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019