Ford Motor Company Found Negligent in $73 Million Lawsuit

The Sacramento Bee reports a Sacramento Superior Court jury found Ford Motor Company negligent in informing dealers and owners of defective tires on their E-350 Econoline van, and they must pay $73 million for a crash that killed two people and injured two.

The accident happened more than seven years ago in Kern County, CA after the tread on the rear right tire separated causing the van to skid off I-5 flipping at least four times.  Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, who settled out of court, had contacted Ford alerting them of the tire defect.  Ford did not distribute that information to their dealers or customers.

The auto company must pay $50 million in punitive damages to the families in the suit.  The remaining amount in damages was distributed to the family of a man who died in the accident, and the two others injured.  The family of the second man who died in the accident previously settled their lawsuit.

Whether you are using products from a household appliance to large equipment to everything in between, you should be able to trust that the product is safe and that you have been given proper warning of any risks the product poses.  At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our product liability attorneys have successfully represented those who have suffered damages caused by defective products.  If you or a loved one has been injured due to a defective product, call us today at 1-800-318-5291 or use our online form.