Digital Not Liable in Keyboard Lawsuit

A jury found Digital Equipment Corp. not liable for injuries that nine workers alleged were caused by use of its keyboards, the computer maker said. The U.S. District Court jury in the New York borough of Brooklyn returned its decision after beginning deliberations earlier in the day following a six-week trial in the multimillion-dollar lawsuit. Maynard, Mass.-based Digital did not dispute the workers’ medical conditions, but it argued that their problems were due to a host of other health issues and complications ranging from thyroid conditions and hypertension to smoking and diabetes. Digital said the decision may help bring an end to growing litigation over computer keyboards, which some critics say cause repetitive stress injury, or RSI--chronic pain in fingers, hands and other parts of the body. “A keyboard is a tool. It is no more dangerous than a bricklayer’s trowel, a piano or even a pen,” said Thomas C. Siekman, general counsel for Compaq Computer Corp., which acquired Digital last week. “We applaud the jurors’ wisdom and common sense.” Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not return calls seeking comment.