Heather Steinke v. Hyundai Motor America, et al.
Published: Dec. 21, 2004 | Result Date: Jul. 21, 2004 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 02CV705 Verdict – $0
Judge
Court
USDC Wisconsin
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Thomas N. Vanderford Jr.
(Hyundai Motor America)
Experts
Plaintiff
Ken Ogren
(technical)
Jeffrey Peterson
(technical)
John P. Drawbert
(technical)
Peter M.C. Ihle
(technical)
Defendant
John Hinger
(technical)
Donald F. Huelke
(technical)
Steve K. Johnson
(technical)
Facts
The plaintiff sued the defendant, Hyundai Motor Company, and claimed that a 1996 Hyundai Accent's airbags were defective and caused her serious injuries. On Oct. 21, 1999, at approximately 1 a.m., the plaintiff, Heather Steinke, 22, and her friend, Melissa Lee, were driving home from a casino in Turtle Lake, Wis., in Lee's 1996 Hyundai Accent. Lee was driving while Steinke sat in the front passenger seat, unbelted, with her right ankle resting over her left knee. Without warning, Lee's Hyundai, which was traveling at about 62 to 65 mph at the time, collided with a wheel and axle that had separated from another vehicle in an earlier accident. During the collision, the Accent's airbags deployed.
Damages
During closing arguments, the plaintiff asked the jury to award in excess of $50,000 in damages (according to the plaintiff). The defense counsel argued that the subject airbags were well designed and functioned properly in the accident and that the plaintiff's injuries were caused by the plaintiff's failure to buckle up and her position in the vehicle at the time of the collision.
Injuries
The plaintiff suffered a comminuted fracture of her right femur extending into the knee joint.
Result
A defense verdict for Hyundai.
Deliberation
2.45 hours
Length
three days
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