Product Liability
o Automotive
Seat Design
Bridges v. General Motors: Decedent Bridges was rear-ended while driving
his S-15 Pickup Truck with his young son as a passenger. Mr. Bridges’
seat failed and he subsequently died from injuries received in the accident.
General Motors was sued under the theory of Product Liability. The amounts paid
in the settlement of this case are subject to a non-disclosure agreement.
Negligent Design of a Fuel Tank, Fuel Filler Neck
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In this case Plaintiffs allege that a 1965 Ford F-100 truck is defective and unreasonably
dangerous because it was designed with an in-cab fuel tank that put nearly 20 gallons of
highly volatile gasoline inside the passenger compartment and within inches of the driver
and passengers, exposing them to substantial risk of harmful gasoline fire in the event of
a fuel system failure at the filler neck, filler hose or filler cap. The fuel tank location
defect allows gasoline to spill in and around the occupant compartment in the event of a rollover crash.
This location defect is exacerbated by similar defects in the design of the fuel fill system.
These include: a breakable rubber fuel hose that runs through the driver and passenger compartment;
an exposed and vulnerable fuel filler neck that passes through the sheet metal of the cab; and an
exposed and vulnerable twist on – twist off fuel filler cap that can be knocked off or damaged in a
variety of foreseeable crashes, including rollover. All of these defects make the Ford truck
vulnerable to leakage in foreseeable crashes, including rollover crashes, where the filler cap
can be knocked off and allow fuel to spill directly next to the occupants. Litigation is still ongoing.
Interior/Roll Bar Design
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Gregor v. DaimlerChrysler: A two car accident in Scottsdale, Arizona, one
plaintiff was ejected (due to seatbelt failure), while the other passenger died
at the scene of the accident from an allegedly defectively designed roll bar
system. Litigation is ongoing.
Seat Belt Failure
Candello v. Subaru: A seatbelt Product Liability case in which Plaintiffs
sued the car manufacturer for a defective seatbelt mechanism. Prior to trial,
manufacturer offered fifty thousand dollars to settle. The jury awarded a $7.3
million verdict.
Occupant Ejection
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Gregor v. DaimlerChrysler: A two car accident in Scottsdale, Arizona, one
plaintiff was ejected (due to seatbelt failure). Litigation is ongoing.
o Bus/Motor Coach
Defective Design
Plaintiffs were Department of Correction Officers Transporting Prisoners in
a Bus, which was manufactured by a large motorcoach manufacturer. The Bus was
involved in a collision with a Semi-Truck, wherein the driver’s legs (Plaintiff
Grant) were amputated and his assistant (Barchey) was caused to be killed. The
settlement is subject to a non-disclosure agreement.
o Garage Door
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A garage door closed on a three year old child. Defendants alleged the children
were playing “beat the door” and that the injured child was caught
in this game in which he participated with other children. A very large multi-million
dollar settlement was obtained when plaintiff was able to show the deficiencies
in the door, irrespective of the child’s activities and the lack of parental
supervision.
o Medical Equipment
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A product liability case; welded stool. A physician sustained severe back injuries
after falling from an improperly welded stool placed in the operating room.
The amounts paid in settlement of this case are subject to a non-disclosure
agreement
o Tire Manufacturer/Separation
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Aguirre v. Goodyear: A vehicle’s tire separated thereby causing
the vehicle to cross the median on state route 51 in Phoenix, Arizona, which
resulted in a five (5) car accident. The multiple vehicle accident was so severe
that two persons perished and others received severe and permanent injuries.
