Those exercise bands are manufactured from natural latex in varying thicknesses, color coded in a trademarked progression from yellow to gold so the person using them can increase the resistance gradually as they become stronger. It's the same principal as a weight lifter adding a bit of weight at a time as his repetitions go beyond the (usually) 8 to 10 reps he's able to perform at a given load. The lowest resistance bands, yellow, are extremely thin. Even the slightest tear can cause the band to break and that's why the manufacturer cautions in writing about inspecting them before every use. Natural latex is also highly sensitive to UV exposure, even from interior lighting, becoming brittle with age, meaning they need to be inspected and replaced on a regular basis.
The manufacturer also cautions against any exercise that would be done with the band being pulled toward the face. And finally, every band is sold with instructions on how, in lieu of the handles they can supply separately recommended for elderly patients with weak hands, to wrap the band several times around the hand to secure it properly and prevent slippage. Now Reid is saying the band either broke or slipped. Well, which was it? In either case the instructions for use must not have been followed. And it has been on that basis that no one who has ever suffered an accident using the product has ever had a successful outcome in any lawsuit.
Thanks for the thorough explanation.
So it's a contrived lawsuit to satisfy his clueless voters and supporters.
Smoke and mirrors, case settled out of court.