Safety Restraint Cases:

1. A jury returned a $53 million verdict against DaimlerChrysler in a case involving a 2000 Dodge Caravan. The driver died due to compartment intrusion and the passenger died due to the failure of her Gen III buckle.
2. Honda settled a case involving a 1985 Honda Accord.A six-year-old child, who was wearing the available 3-point seatbelt, was paralyzed during the accident.Plaintiffs alleged she was a ‘forgotten child’, that is,a child four to ten years of age who is not properly restrained by adult belts.
3. Ford settled a case involving a 1996 Ford Explorer in which a center rear passenger, was ejected and killed when the Explorer rolled over. Plaintiff alleged that the RCF-67 buckle was defective because it was prone to false latchand Ford knew this, but switched from end release buckles back to RCF-67s in order to save money.An unbuckled right rear passenger, was ejected and killed, due in part to the lack of laminated side glass in the side windows.
4. At trial, Ford settled a passive belt case involving a 1990 Ford Escort. The plaintiff was wearing the automatic shoulder harness in the Escort but had not fastened the manual lap belt. The Plaintiff was ejected through the rear hatch, and was rendered a paraplegic. Plaintiff alleged the Escort was defective in that it failed to have an integrated lap belt, and that Ford’s use of tempered glass contributed to the injuries.
5. Ford settled a restraint case involving a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer.The Plaintiff, a passenger in the vehicle, was injured due to defects in the door latch system and safety restraint system.
6. General Motors settled a case involving a 1992 Pontiac Tran Sport.The plaintiff was utilizing the three-point restraint system when the Tran Sport was rear-ended and the seatbelt unlatched resulting in catastrophic injuries.
7. Ford settled a restraint case involving a 1989 Ford Taurus.The driver of the Taurus struck a concrete median and her TRW buckle unlatched.As a result, the driver was ejected out of the passenger side door and had to have her arm amputated.
8. Toyota settled a case involving a 1991 Toyota 4Runner that went off the road and hit a tree while traveling 20 mph.The seatbelt spooled out, allowing the plaintiff to hit his head on the inner rim of the steering wheel, resulting in paralysis.
9. Ford settled a case involving a 1999 Ford Escort.Plaintiff was the right front passenger in the Escort which suffered impact to the left front quarter panel.Plaintiff, who was wearing the available torso belt but not the lapbelt, sustained injuries in the collision due to inadequate restraint protection.
10. DaimlerChrysler and Takata settled a case involving a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 with Takata seatbelts.When the Ram rolled over, the passenger seatbelt spooled out, resulting in the partial ejection of the passenger. The driver’s belt buckle released, resulting in his ejection.
11. General Motors settled a case involving a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera.The Plaintiff, a two-year-old rear passenger, was rendered brain damaged and quadriplegic in the accident because, the Plaintiffs alleged that the right rear seatbelt restraint was defectively designed and failed to properly perform.
12. DaimlerChrysler settled a Gen III seatbelt case involving a 1997 Dodge Stratus. Although she was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the collision, the Plaintiff’s decedent was ejected through the passenger side front windshield and killed.
13. Nissan settled a case involving a 1998 Nissan Sentra. A four year old child was seated in the rear center seat wearing his only lapbelt when the car was involved in a minor frontal accident. During the accident, he rotated over his lap only belt and hit his head on the rear center console and was rendered a C-1 ventilator quadriplegic. The defendant’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment based upon Preemption was denied. This is the first case of this kind where a court ruled against Federal preemption on a rear center lapbelt case.
14. A Florida jury returned a verdict against Ford in a reclined seat case involving a 1998 Ford Windstar. The Plaintiff was sleeping in the right front passenger seat with her seat fully reclined when the Windstar rear-ended a stopped vehicle at about 30 mph and was rendered paraplegic by injuries sustained because the seatbelt failed to protect her. Plaintiff introduced Ford advertisements that promoted the benefits of reclining seats on long trips.
15. General Motors settled a restraint case involving a 2002 Chevy Cavalier. When the Cavalier was involved in a head-on collision, the seven-year-old occupant seated in the left rear seat submarined under the seatbelt. As a result, the child suffered massive internal injuries.
16. Toyota settled a passive belt case involving a 1983 Toyota Cressida. The 5’2” plaintiff was wearing the Cressida’s shoulder belt but not the lapbelt when the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision. When the shoulder belt came across the plaintiff’s neck, she was rendered a C5/C6 quadriplegic.

Air Bag Cases:

1. A Texas jury awarded the plaintiff $38 million in a side airbag case involving a 2001 Suburban. The Plaintiff was the belted front right passenger in the Suburban when it was struck on the passenger side by a semi going 40 mph, but the side impact airbag for her seat did not deploy. She suffered severe and irreversible brain injury.
2. Ford settled a case involving a 2001 Ford Taurus in which the passenger side airbag did not deploy during a frontal impact collision in excess of 50 mph. The plaintiff suffered a broken neck, permanent brain damage, and significant loss of use in one arm.
3. Ford settled an airbag case involving a 1995 Ford Escort in which a belted passenger suffered a loss of vision in one eye when the airbag deployed. Plaintiff alleged the airbag should not have deployed because there was no significant damage resulted to the vehicle.
4. Toyota settled a case involving a 1994 Camry in which the Plaintiff suffered an eye injury from the untethered passenger airbag that deployed when the Camry was involved in a head-on collision.
5. At mediation, DaimlerChrysler settled a case involving a 1997 Dodge Intrepid. The airbag in the Intrepid failed to deploy when the vehicle was side swiped and the driver’s airbag sensor was knocked off in the collision.
6. General Motors settled a case involving a 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier. The Cavalier was t-boned by a pickup truck. As a result, the driver sustained a fatal head injury. Plaintiff alleged that GM should have equipped the Cavalier with side airbags for side impact protection.
7. A Massachusetts jury has returned a defense verdict in a case involving a 1996 Toyota Corolla. The driver, a small statured person, was rendered quadriplegic by the aggressively deploying airbag.
8. General Motors settled a case involving a 2000 Chevrolet pickup. The Plaintiff was rendered a paraplegic when, despite a violent accident, the airbags did not deploy.
9. General Motors confidentially settled an airbag case involving a 2002 Buick Century. The Century was rear ended by another vehicle at 27 mph, but the airbag did not deploy. The driver’s neck snapped and he died after three weeks The Century had pre-drilled holes for a frontal sensor, but no sensor was added even though its sister cars of the same year were equipped with a frontal sensor.
10. General Motors settled an airbag case involving a 2000 Chevy Silverado. After a group of vandals removed road construction warning signs, the unbelted plaintiff hit the far side of the ditch at 25 mph resulting in a head and neck injury and pelvis fracture.
11. Ford settled a 1993 Crown Victoria overly aggressive airbag case before trial. The plaintiff was involved in a single car accident with minor side contact with a jersey barrier, which caused unnecessary deployment that resulted in loss of eye sight.
12. Ford settled an airbag nondeployment case involving a 1999 Ford Ranger. The Ranger was traveling downhill in the rain when it began skating to the right. The vehicle was then involved in a head-on collision during which the airbag failed to deploy.
13. Ford settled an airbag case involving a 2001 Mercury Grand Marquis. The plaintiff’s vehicle began an uncommanded acceleration and plaintiff attempted to stop the vehicle, evidenced by 86 feet of skid marks. However, the Grand Marquis jumped a curb, crashed into a tree, and crushed the front end of the vehicle. Neither the driver nor the passenger side airbag deployed, and neither seatbelt pretensioner fired.

Seat Design/Failure Cases:

1. A Tennessee jury awarded $10 million to the plaintiff in a seat design case involving a 1997 Ford Escort.The Plaintiff’s seatback failed after a rear impact, causing her to ramp up her seatback into the back seat.She suffered a T-9 thoracic fracture, resulting in paraplegia.The Plaintiff was found to be 30% at fault for causing the wreck, so the verdict was reduced to a $7 million judgment.
2. An Illinois jury awarded $27 million to the plaintiff in a case involving a 1996 Ford Escort. The belted driver of the Escort was rear-ended by a Cadillac traveling at 55-60 mph. As a result, the seatback broke and the driver suffered fatal head injuries.
   
3. Nissan settled a case involving a 2000 Nissan Quest SE.The occupants were traveling in the minivan when it was struck from behind by a school bus.The seatback failed, killing the 12-year-old passenger sitting behind the driver.Two other passengers walked away without serious injury.
4. Mazda settled a case involving a 1998 Mazda Protégé.After the Protégé was rear-ended, the seatback failed and rendered one occupant a quadriplegic and a second occupant a paraplegic.
5. DaimlerChrysler settled a 1995 Jeep Wrangler case. The driver was rear-ended by a minivan at a delta v of approximately 15-19 mph. The driver’s seat collapsed rearward rendering the plaintiff a quadriplegic. Plaintiff conducted extensive sled testing with the production 1995 Wrangler seats and alternative Sebring seats which were much stronger than other Chrysler seats.
   
6. General Motors settled a case involving a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier.Plaintiff was stopped at a red light he was rear ended.The Cavalier in turn collided with the vehicle in front of it.The Cavalier’s seatback collapsed and the Plaintiff, was ejected and struck his head on the rear package tray and he suffered a severe right frontotemporal parietal subdural hematoma with t midline shift, facial fractures, and vocal cord trauma.
7. In mediation, DaimlerChrysler settled a case involving a 1996 Dodge Caravan Sport.The Caravan was rear-ended (delta V of 14-18 mph), causing the driver’s seat of the van to fail rearward.A minor who was strapped in her car seat in a position immediately behind the driver’s seat, sustained multiple facial and skull fractures when the driver’s head ‘ramped’ over the seatback and impacted her head and face.
8. A Florida case involving a 2000 Ford Explorer ended with a hung jury and resulted in a mistrial.The Explorer was hit from behind at48 mph and the seatback collapsed.The Plaintiff suffered a fractured neck and spinal cord injuries, rendering her a quadriplegic.
9. Ford settled a seat design/glass case involving a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis. During the collision, the driver’s seat belt buckle unlatched, the window glazing on some of the windows shattered, and his seat back yielded. As a result, he was ejected through the driver’s side rear window opening and killed.
   
10. During trial, Ford settled a seat design case involving a 1996 Ford Explorer.The Explorer was struck from the rear and crashed into a ditch.The Plaintiff’s seatback collapsed and theseatbelts failed to latch properly, and released during the accident, thus allowing the occupant to be partially or completely ejected.
11. Ford settled a seat design case involving a 1996 Contour. The Contour was struck in the rear by a by another vehicle with a delta V of 20.59 mph.The driver of the Contour was rendered quadriplegic by injuries sustained after his seatback collapsed.

Tire Cases:

1. A Montana jury has awarded $8.2 million to the plaintiffs in a case involving a Les Schwab tire on a cement truck. The tire failed at highway speed, causing the fully loaded cement truck to hit the plaintiffs’ Ford Escort head on, killing the driver and passenger. The jury found the tire defective and found that Les Schwab failed to have a policy against placing retreads on steer axles of large commercial vehicles.
2. Goodyear Tire settled a case involving a Wrangler HT LT245/75R16 LRE tire on a Chevrolet Utility truck.While pulling a flatbed trailer, the right rear tire peeled apart leading to a rollover and death.
3. Titan and Ford settled a case involving a Titan Tire on a 1991 Ford Explorer. The left rear tire suddenly and unexpectedly detreaded, causing a loss of control and rollover, during the rollover, nine occupants were injured and/or killed.Seven of nine passengers were unbelted and ejected.
4. Ford and Firestone settled a case involving a Firestone Wilderness radial tire on a 1992 Ford Explorer.The tread on the left rear Firestone tire separated from the rest of the tire causing a rollover.The Plaintiff was killed and several other occupants were severely injured during the incident.
5. Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone settled a case involving a detreaded tire on a Ford Explorer. After the Decatur, Ill. manufactured tire experienced a tread separation, the Explorer rolled over, resulting in the death of one occupant.
   
6. Continental General settled a case involving a tire on a Ford 550 dual rear wheel truck. The tire exploded during a service check.
   
7. Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford settled a case involving a Firestone ATX tire on a 1995 Ford Explorer. Plaintiff took the 1995 Explorer equipped with ATX tires to a Firestone Tire and Service Center to have the tires replaced through the recall but the spare was not replaced. Over two years later, plaintiff took the vehicle to a local tire shop that unknowingly placed the ATX spare tire on the Explorer. The tire experienced tread separation, resulting in the vehicle losing control and rolling over.
   
8. Bridgestone/Firestone settled a case involving a Wilderness AT tire on a 1997 Ford Explorer. The right rear tire detreaded, causing the vehicle to lose control and crash into an embankment. The accident occurred 93 days before the recall.
   
9. Continental Tire settled a case involving a General Ameri P215/70R15 tire on a 1999 Ford Windstar. The tire suddenly and unexpectedly failed, causing the vehicle to rollover, which resulted in severe personal injuries to the plaintiffs.
   
10. A Florida jury returned a plaintiff verdict in a Dunlop tire case involving tread separation. The tire completely separated, causing the vehicle to roll.Both the driver and passenger sustained blunt head trauma resulting in death. A tire puncture had previously been repaired.
11. Ford and Dunlop settled a case involving a Dunlop tire on a 1995 Ford Explorer.After the tire failed, the Explorer rolled over and the front passenger door latch plate broke due to a complete shearing of metal.As a result, the driver and front passenger were seriously injured.
12. General Tire settled a case involving the tread separation of an Ameri-Tech tire on a Chevrolet Cavalier.Two occupants were killed when the right rear tire experienced tread separation, causing the vehicle to crash.

Rollover and Roof Crush Cases:

1. Isuzu settled a case involving a 1996 Isuzu Rodeo. After the belted driver executed an avoidance maneuver, the Rodeo rolled 4-5 times resulting in 14 inches of roof crush.The driver died of positional asphyxiation.
2. A Texas jury returned a defense verdict in a case involving a 2001 Ford Explorer.The front passenger in the Explorer was injured when the vehicle rollover over and experienced roof crush.
3. Ford settled a case involving a 2000 Ford Taurus. The vehicle rolled 2 ½ times and during the roll, the roof crushed on the passenger side, rendering the passenger, who was properly belted, a quadriplegic.
4. Ford settled a case involving a 1992 Ford F-150.The F-150 rolled over on the shoulder of the highway.Although properly belted, the driver was killed in the crash.
5. General Motors settled a case involving a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab pickup truck.The plaintiff fell asleep, left the roadway, and could not regain control.The vehicle rolled over 2-3 times.Although the plaintiff was belted, he was rendered a quadriplegic due to the severe roof crush.
6. Isuzu settled a case involving a 1997 Isuzu Trooper.The driver executed an avoidance maneuver and rolled through the median and experienced severe roof crush.The 22-year-old driver was rendered a quadriplegic.
7. General Motors settled a roof crush case involving a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban.A properly belted 18-year-old high school senior.The Suburban’s roof severely deformed and compressed her neck.She was rendered a ventilator-dependent C-2 tetraplegic.
8. General Motors settled a case involving a 1994 Suburban.When the plaintiff swerved during a lane change at 60 mph, the vehicle rolled over in the median. As a result of the roof crush, the plaintiff sustained a C-2 spinal contusion.
9. General Motors settled a case involving a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban.Plaintiff was a belted passenger in the Suburban when driver allowed the right wheels of the Suburban to briefly leave the roadway.An off-road rollover resulted and, though the plaintiff remained belted throughout the rollover event, she was rendered an incomplete quadriplegic when the roof crushed well below the belt line.
10. General Motors settled a case involving a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban.The Suburban was towing a boat trailer when an 18- wheeler struck the boat trailer causing a rollover. Both passengers sitting on the right side of the vehicle were killed when the roof crushed on the right below the belt line.
11. General Motors settled a case involving a 1998 Chevy S-10 pickup truck.The truck rolled over and the roof crushed severely injuring a properly belted front seat passenger. Plaintiffs alleged GM should have incorporated Web grabbers and pretensioners in the seatbelt system to prevent occupants from diving into the roof.
12. A Florida jury returned a $10.1 million verdict against Ford in a 2000 4-door Explorer case.The Explorer rolled over 5-6 times after being sideswiped by an RV.The 5’4” driver died of a fractured skull as a result of driver’s side roof crush, while the back seat passenger and 6’ front passenger sustained only minor injuries.All occupants were belted.
13. A Texas jury returned a defense verdict in a 1992 Ford Explorer Sport case.The vehicle rolled over three and a half times.Plaintiffs alleged the Explorer was defective, structurally inferior, uncrashworthy, and unreasonable dangerous.
14. General Motors settled a case involving the rollover roof crush of a 2000 Grand Prix.A passenger in the vehicle, sustained a severe spinal cord injury resulting in permanent incomplete C6 quadriplegia.The roof crush of over twelve inches eliminated the occupant survival space over the front passenger seat.
15. Ford settled a case involving a 2002 F-150 Super Crew. During a collision, the roof of the truck collapsed on the driver’s side, the belts failed, and the glass was completely destroyed, permitting an unbelted passenger to be ejected.Both the driver and the passenger died in the accident.
16. Nissan settled a roof crush case involving a 1994 Nissan Altima.When a vehicle with a homemade flat-bed intruded into the Altima’s passenger compartment, the decedent was rendered a quadriplegic and later died.
17. An Indiana jury returned a defense verdict in a roof crush case involving a 1998 Kia Sportage.The Sportage rolled over at least two times, the windshield shattered. and the roof on the driver’s side crushed in on Plaintiff who suffered severe and permanent spinal cord injuries.
18. An Oklahoma jury returned a defense verdict in a roof crush case involving a Ford F-350.The plaintiff was driving the F-350 when it rolled over, rendering the plaintiff a quadriplegic.
19. General Motors settled a case involving a 2000 2-door Chevrolet Blazer.After an avoidance maneuver the vehicle rolled over two times, resulting in ejection. Plaintiff, who was pinned under the right rear of the vehicle, suffered a serious brain injury in addition to excruciating pain and disfigurement.
20. Ford settled a roof crush case involving a 2001 Ford F-250 truck.The driver swerved to avoid a deer, resulting in an off-road rollover.Though he was wearing his seatbelt, he suffered severe injury to his spinal cord resulting in quadriplegia when the vehicle’s roof crushed during the rollover.
21. A Michigan jury returned a defense verdict in a roof crush case involving a 2000 Ford Explorer. As a result of tire failure, the Explorer went out of control, resulting in the rollover. The belted right front passenger died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.
    
22. A Florida jury returned a defense verdict in a roof crush case involving a 1995 Discovery. After a rear-end collision and subsequent rollover, the plaintiff’s roof crushed in, rendering the plaintiff a C4-C5 quadriplegic.
    
23. Ford confidentially settled a roof crush/seatbelt/glazing case involving a 2000 Ford Expedition.Plaintiff was driving the Expedition and pulling a camping trailer when the Expedition separated from the trailer, and rolled over three times. The roof collapsed and the Plaintiff sustained a severe spinal injury that resulted in quadriplegia.
24. A Texas jury returned a plaintiff’s verdict in a case involving a 1993 Ford F-150.The Plaintiff’s decedent was a beltedfront right passenger in the vehicle when it was involved in a collision and rolled over.The roof crushed, the seatbelt failed, and the Plaintiffswas partially ejected and killed.
25. Honda/Isuzu settled a rollover case involving a 1997 Honda Passport.Plaintiff was driving the Passport at 65 mph when the front wheel went off the paved portion of the roadway and the vehicle rolled over.Plaintiff sustained serious personal injuries another passenger was killed.
26. Ford settled a rollover/roof crush case involving a 1998 Ford Explorer. An unknown vehicle made a lane change causing the plaintiff to veer to the left in an accident avoidance maneuver. When the plaintiff attempted to re-enter the roadway, the vehicle rotated counterclockwise and rolled.
    
27. A West Virginia jury returned a defense verdict in a case involving a 1996 Ford Explorer. The driver attempted an avoidance maneuver resulting in a rollover. She was partially ejected and died due to severe head trauma. The jury found that Ford was negligent in the design of the Explorer but that the negligence was not the proximate cause of the injuries.
28. Ford settled a case involving a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer.The belted occupants in the Mountaineer were fatally ejected during the single vehicle on-road rollover.
29. Ford settled a roof crush case involving a 2000 F-250.The F-250’s right front tire dropped off the edge of the roadway, went up an embankment, then rolled twice back down the embankment.Injuries unknown. Plaintiff alleged defects in the roof structure, door latch, and seatbelt.
30. Ford settled a roof crush case involving a 1997 Expedition.Plaintiff lost control at highway speed and the Expedition rolled over three to four times resulting in the death of the driver.
31. General Motors settled a roof crush case involving a 2000 GMC C3500 Sierra pickup truck.The Sierra, a part of the GMT 400 series, experienced 15.3 inches of roof crush during the single vehicle rollover.The belted driver suffered fatal injuries.
32. A Florida jury returned a verdict against Ford in a rollover case involving a 1996 Explorer.The driver of the Explorer unintentionally left the roadway and attempted to correct, causing the vehicle to lose control and roll over. A passenger was ejected out of his seatbelt and through the passenger front window.
33. A South Carolina jury returned a verdict against Ford in a rollover case involving a 2000 Explorer.During the rollover one occupant was ejected and killed.
34. Ford settled a rollover case involving a 1996 Ford Explorer.The Explorer was involved in a single vehicle untripped rollover while traveling between 38-40 mph.A six-year-old unrestrained child was ejected during the rollover, resulting in a serious head injury.
35. Nissan settled a rollover/glass case involving a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder. During the on-road rollover, the decedent was ejected and killed.
36. During mediation, General Motors settled a rollover case involving a 1998 S-10 Blazer.The driver of the Blazer fell asleep and drifted into a median and the Blazer went into a passenger-side leading roll.The belted driver cracked his skull when he was partially ejected.
37. During trial, Ford settled a rollover case involving a 2000 XLT 4 Door Explorer.The Explorer was traveling at a speed of 68 mph when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to roll over five to seven times. The on-road rollover resulted in two fatalities.
38. Suzuki settled a rollover case involving a 2002 2-WD XL 7.The vehicle tipped up on two wheels and rolled over while still on pavement.Plaintiff’s two sons, ages 3 and 7, were ejected and killed.
39. Ford settled a rollover/roof crush case involving a 1984 Ford Bronco XLT. During the rollover, the fiberglass roof collapsed and detached.Injuries unknown.
40. During trial, Ford settled a rollover case involving a 2001 F-150.During the rollover collision, the properly-restrained driver sustained incapacitating injuries.
41. A Texas, jury returned a defense verdict in a rollover case involving a 1998 Toyota 4Runner.Plaintiffs’ decedents were unbelted rear seat passengers in the 4Runner when the vehicle rolled over on flat, dry pavement both rear passengers were ejected and killed.

Glass and Glazing Cases:

1. A Texas jury returned a $31 million verdict against Ford in a case involving a 2000 Ford Explorer.Two passengers in the Explorer were ejected as it rolled over at least two times.During the rollover, the side door glass of the vehicle shattered, leaving openings/ejection portals for the occupants.Plaintiffs alleged that Ford ignored safety concerns by continuing to use tempered glass rather than laminated glass.
2. A Texas jury returned a verdict against Motor Coach Industries in a glazing/seatbelt case involving a 52-passenger bus. The bus crossed the median and crashed into an oncoming Chevrolet Suburban.Seven people were killed in the accident, including five people on the bus and two in the Suburban.

Door Latch Cases:

1. General Motors settled a case involving a 1995 Chevrolet Blazer.The Plaintiff’s decedent, who was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident, was ejected and killed when the vehicle rolled over and the door unlatched, opened, and was torn off the vehicle.Her seatbelt also unspooled during the accident.
2. After three weeks of trial and right before closing statements, Ford settled a case involving a 1988 Ford F-150 pickup.The truck was struck on the left side, causing it to roll over.A belted occupant was ejected and killed,Plaintiff alleged the seatbelt inertially unlatched and the door latch failed.
3. Ford settled a door latch case involving a 1997 Ford Expedition. The driver was ejected and killed when the side door latch was activated and opened during a roll over. The decedent was also injured by incursion of the roof into the passenger compartment.
   
4. Ford confidentially settled a door latch case involving a 1998 Ford F-150. The driver of another vehicle struck the truck, resulting in a rollover.The driver was ejected and killed when the driver’s side door opened.

Fuel Fed Fire Cases:

1. General Motors settled a case involving a 1974 Chevrolet pickup that burst into flames immediately after a collision.The driver suffered fatal thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.
2. A California jury has awarded a plaintiff $9 million in a case involving a Freightliner FLC 120 heavy truck.A post-collision fuel fed fire resulted from a single vehicle off-road rollover.The occupant burned to death because he was trapped inside the vehicle.
3. An Illinois jury awarded $43.2 million to the plaintiffs in a case involving a 1993 Lincoln Town Car.The car’s fuel tank was ruptured by a pipe wrench and erupted when it was rear-ended. The driver died a passenger sustained severe thermal burns.
4. General Motors settled a fuel system case involving a 1986 Chevy C/K pickup truck. A collision with a tree resulted in a fire the killed the driver.Although the fuel tank was not punctured, the tank’s position outside the frame allowed the gas lines to be pulled off in the collision.
5. A Missouri jury returned a defense verdict in a fuel system case involving a 2003 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. Upon impact, the vehicle burst into flames, killing one officer and severely injuring the other.
6. Ford settled a fuel system/door latch case involving a 1989 Ford Mustang. The Mustang was struck in the rear by another vehicle, which resulted in a fuel tank puncture. The driver escaped, but a passenger died.
7. General Motors settled a fuel system case involving a 1975 GMC pickup. The vehicle struck a tree on the driver’s side. The pickup immediately burst into flames, killing the driver.
   
8. At mediation, General Motors settled a fuel system case involving a 1995 Geo Tracker. The driver burned to death after a collision and resulting fire.

Sudden Acceleration Caeses:

1. DaimlerChrysler settled a case involving a 1998 Dodge Intrepid. Driver and passenger were killed when the Intrepid experienced a sudden acceleration event.
2. DaimlerChrysler settled a case involving a 1989 Jeep Cherokee. The plaintiff’s decedent, a 68-year-old retired female, was killed when the Cherokee experienced sudden and unintended acceleration. The decedent had taken the Cherokee to the dealership, complaining of high idle and sudden acceleration, but the problem was not repaired.

Fifteen Passenger Van Cases:

1. Ford settled a case involving a 1998 Ford Club Wagon XLT.Two teenage dancers who were part of a troupe from a foreign dance academy were ejected and killed while riding as unrestrained passengers in the Club Wagon. Plaintiffs alleged the narrow wheel base and high center of gravity made it susceptible to loss of control when fully loaded. Furthermore, the failure to use glazing on the side windowsallowed them to break out during the crash, creating portals for ejection.
2. General Motors settled a case involving a 1998 15-passenger Chevrolet Express van.The Plaintiff sustained catastrophic injuries when the van she was riding in experienced a low impact hit from behind and rolled over. Plaintiff’s claims against GM were based on the van’s instability and lack of rollover resistance.
3. DaimlerChrysler settled a rollover case involving a 1999 Dodge Ram 3500 15 passenger van. Plaintiff , and her nine children, were traveling in the Ram when the van experienced a loss of control after being passed by an 18 wheeler. The van rolled over, two people were killed and the other eight occupants suffered mild to serious injuries.
   

Multiple Defect Cases:

1. General Motors settled a case involving a 1992 Chevrolet K2500 Suburban.The driver lost control and the vehicle rolled over, and its roof collapsed.The seatbelt failed to properly restrain the driver and he sustained injuries from which he died.
2. Ford and TRW settled a case involving a 1998 Ford Expedition.Plaintiff’s decedent was driving a group of children in the Expedition when she lost control of the vehicle and rolled several times.She was using the seatbelt but was ejected because her seatbelt unlatched.
3. Ford settled a case involving a 2002 Ford Excursion that rolled over, killing the front seat passenger and injuring five other occupants.The Excursion was pulling a camper trailer and Plaintiff also settled with EAZ-Lift Spring Company (sway control device manufacturer) and Sunnybrook (the trailer manufacturer) and Bennett’s CampingCenter (where the camper and sway control device were purchased).
4. Ford settled a case involving a 1996 Ford Mustang.The Mustang rolled over and causing unknown injuries.
5. General Motors settled a case involving an off-road rollover of a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado.An unrestrained passenger, was ejected and killed during the rollover.Plaintiffs alleged the truck was defective because it lacked electronic stability control, and did not contain laminated glass in the side windows.
6. At mediation, General Motors settled a case involving the rollover of a 2001 Yukon.The driver was ejected and rendered an incomplete quadriplegic. Plaintiff alleged that theYukon was defective because it lacked electronic stability control, laminated side glazing or side curtain airbags, and because the seatbelt buckle was prone to inadvertent unlatching.
7. Ford settled a case involving rollover and roof crush of a 2002 F-350. Plaintiff argued that Ford could have prevented the rollover if it had implemented AdvanceTrac or some other form of electronic stability control and laminated glass. Several occupants were ejected and a back seat passenger killed.
8. DaimlerChrysler settled a restraint/glass case involving a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. The Cherokee was struck on the right causing the Jeep to roll over several times. The seatbelt buckle released during the rollover, and the driver was ejected and killed.
9. During trial, DaimlerChrysler settled a restraint/glass case involving a 1996 Dodge Intrepid. The Intrepid skidded on water collided with some trees. The driver was ejected and broke her neck. Plaintiffs alleged the Gen III buckle unlatched during the accident, allowing her to be ejected.
10. A Texas jury returned a plaintiff verdict in a seatbelt/glazing case involving a 2000 Ford Expedition. The Expedition was struck in the rear, causing it to roll over one and one-quarter times. The third row driver’s side rear window shattered, leaving the third row passenger compartment open and unprotected from side ejection. A belted 10 year old rear passenger was partially ejected through the unprotected side opening and killed.
11. A Texas jury found defect and causation in a case involving a 1995 Ford Ranger Supercab. After a tire on the Ranger experienced tread separation, the vehicle went out of control and rolled over. The resulting roof deformation allowed the windshield to pop out, and the occupant was ejected. Plaintiff, who had previously settled with Ford, TRW, and Bridgestone, proceeded against the company that replaced the windshield.

Unknown or Miscellaneous Other Defects:

1. General Motors settled a case involving a 1990 Chevrolet Caprice. A male child was standing on run over and killed when his sister accidentally engaged the automatic transmission and placed the vehicle in reverse. Plaintiff alleged GM failed to install a transmission shift interlock (BTSI) safety device to protect from accidental shift of gears from park to reverse.
2. Toyota settled a case involving a Toyota Tug.A mechanic was jumping off a battery on a luggage Tug.The Tug slipped into gear, pulling the mechanic between the wheel and the wheel-well.He died at the scene.
3. At mediation, DaimlerChrysler settled a case involving a 1998 Dodge Dakota.The Dakota struck a tree, resulting in the plaintiff’s ejection through the driver’s side window.The plaintiff was severely injured and required several surgeries.
4. Ford settled a case involving a 1990 Ford Mustang.After hitting a rock, the Mustang rolled over and an unbelted passenger in the rear seat struck his head on the sunroof latch, resulting in quadriplegia.
5. DaimlerChrysler agreed to a pre-suit settlement in a case involving a 2001 Dodge Ram 4x4 pickup truck.The plaintiff believed to be park mode and exited the truck.As she was leaving the vehicle, the truck’s transmission slipped from “illusory park” into reverse.She was knocked down by the vehicle and it ran over her right leg and knee.
6. A Texas jury returned a defense verdict in a case involving a 2001 Ford Explorer.The driver of backed over a three-year-old child behind the vehicle in the blind spot, and the child died.Plaintiff alleged the vehicle should have been equipped with a reverse sensing system.
7. A Texas jury returned a defense verdict in a case involving a 2001 Ford F-250.A three-year-old was strangled and died after having her head stuck in a power window.
8. Toyota settled a power window case involving a 1995 Toyota 4Runner.A child’s head became trapped in the window space when the power window rolled up, resulting in brain damage.
9. Helmet House settled an FG-2 HJC helmet case for $5 million. The helmet flexed inward after a side impact, resulting in a temporal fracture. The helmet manufacturer settled for a confidential amount.