Forklift maker Raymond Corporation has beaten a product liability lawsuit stemming from the death of a man operating a Raymond stand-up forklift.

The forklift toppled off a loading dock, killing operator Toby Smedley in December 1996. His daughter, Victoria, sued Raymond, alleging the operator's standing position and the forklift's controls were ill-suited to emergency situations, the tyres were too smooth for wet surfaces, such as those on loading docks, and the forklift's design lacked a latching rear enclosure to protect the operator.

She also alleged Raymond shredded accident reports, internal team minutes and other documents about the incident. A jury verdict favoured Raymond, and the California Supreme Court in Sacramento, on July 10, affirmed the conclusion in denying Ms Smedley's appeal for review.

Raymond makes a full line of manual and electric pallet trucks and walkie stackers, counterbalanced forklifts, reach trucks, order-pickers and dual-purpose forklifts for pallet handling and case picking.