California Supreme Court Holds Ford Responsible For Explorer Rollover Case

A California appeals court said a woman who was paralyzed after her Ford Explorer rolled over is entitled to $82.6 million in damages from the automaker.

The 4th District Court of Appeal was asked by the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case after Ford Motor Co. (nyse: F - news - people ) appealed the award, arguing that it was being punished even though the design of the vehicle met federal safety standards.

Benetta Buell-Wilson was driving on an interstate east of San Diego in January 2002 when she swerved to avoid a metal object and lost control of her 1997 Explorer, which rolled 4 1/2 times. The mother of two was paralyzed from the waist down when the roof collapsed on her neck, severing her spine.

A jury initially awarded Buell-Wilson $369 million, including $246 million in punitive damages but courts twice cut the size of the award.



Read Article

Agent009 - 3/11/2008 2:26:05 PM

+3 Boost

How many billions is this going to cost Ford now?

EnnNorak - 3/11/2008 11:43:29 PM

-1 Boost

The justice system works but Ford will never learn.

randy33 - 3/15/2008 12:28:05 AM

+1 Boost

NOTHING. This will be overturned. Some BIG AUTO hatin' judges on the CA Supreme court must have digested a whole truckload of prima facie evidence to excrete this awful verdict. THE FLIES ARE BUZZING. Shame on those judges!

Earth to CA Supreme Court: PORSCHE DID NOT MURDER JAMES DEAN.

Ford is not responsible for this woman's negligence. This woman was speeding, and she lost control. She was driving an off-road vehicle at high-speed on the FREEWAY and wasn't paying attention. She crashed, she broke her back. Now she wants half a billion dollars?

Any honest judge should have told this lady to piss off.

kpaxx - 3/11/2008 3:19:53 PM

+4 Boost

yup my sport ute is supposed to handle likem a sports car..Doooh!

EnnNorak - 3/11/2008 11:50:57 PM

-1 Boost

It's easy to design an SUV that will not roll easily -- all you need is a heavy truck frame and a light-weight body mounted on top of it. Government safety nazis should force manufacturers to sell tall vehicles with specifications for center of gravity and roll-over speeds for right-angle turns so that customers can compare before they buy. Last week in Edmonton, where we have our share of maniac drivers, some idiot rolled a big truck while turning a corner at an intersection and I had to detour for many blocks to get back on track.

mocashflo924 - 3/11/2008 3:48:44 PM

+1 Boost

Agree with both of you. If you turn the wheel hard enough on an SUV it is going to roll over. Duh. Reminds me of the chix that spilt hot coffee on herself at McDonalds and sued them cause it was to hot. Coffee is suppose to be hot just like an SUV does not handle like a sports car.

EnnNorak - 3/11/2008 11:53:00 PM

-1 Boost

I make my coffee hot but let it cool down to room temperature overnight before I drink it mixed with skim milk -- believe me it tastes better.

KZ258 - 3/11/2008 5:56:32 PM

+3 Boost

thats better than winning the lotto!

Doukas - 3/12/2008 4:44:52 PM

+1 Boost

Not being able to walk is better than winning the lotto ?? Im sure she would trade in the 86 million to be able to walk ... don't be an idoit.

jt716 - 3/11/2008 7:15:19 PM

+2 Boost

Wow as usual another retarded case. I don't see how these people can even be in the legal system if they awarded the woman the case even though Ford did nothing. So now every time i get in an accident and I get hurt I should sue the automaker? Not a fair case!

MercBasher - 3/12/2008 1:03:55 AM

+1 Boost

I completely disagree - a car manufacturer shouldn't hide behind minimum government standards, but should actively seeks ways to make vehicles safer and affordable. I don't like Mercedes but at least Mercedes is very active is seeking out and installing safety oriented solutions in its vehicles. What has Ford ever done for safety [besides buy Volvo and make safety LESS important in Volvo vehicles]

american_made - 3/11/2008 7:46:06 PM

+3 Boost

That is ridiculous, what ambulance chasing attorney took that case. The absurd and makes me sick!

macker83 - 3/11/2008 10:56:12 PM

-1 Boost

it just showes what pieces of american dirt ford are!

mocashflo924 - 3/12/2008 10:03:47 AM

+3 Boost

Anyone complaining about crash test and safety standards, remember this happened in 2002 so that SUV was at the earliest and 02. Maybe when it was made the safety standards were different. All these new stability programs and roll prevention systems were pretty much only seen in high end cars. Obviously today auto makers put them in every car, its going to be a law by i believe by 2010, back when her explorer was built safety might not have been a top priorty at ford.