Karlsson v. Ford Motor Co.
Published: Nov. 18, 2003 | Result Date: Oct. 14, 2003 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: PC0019980 Verdict – $45,450,000
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior San Fernando
Attorneys
Plaintiff
David R. Lira
(Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack)
Thomas V. Girardi
(Girardi & Keese)
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Gary Whitman
(technical)
Rick Delamarter
(medical)
Joyce Elaine Pickersgill
(technical)
Richard Erlich
(medical)
James Atkinson
(medical)
Joseph L. Burton
(medical)
Marshal Paulo
(technical)
Paul Deutsch
(technical)
Sandra Schneider
(technical)
Paul Kayfetz
(technical)
James Boyd
(medical)
Defendant
John Cavanaugh
(technical)
Ted Vavoulis
(technical)
Edward L. Workman
(technical)
Ronald L. Woolley
(technical)
Terry Thomas
(technical)
Facts
On Nov. 23, 1996, the plaintiff was a passenger in his family's 1996 Ford Windstar traveling northbound on the 5 Freeway when it collided with a 29,000-pound coil of steel that had been dislodged from a tractor-trailer. The plaintiff was seated in the middle seat of the third row bench with a lap belt. All other occupants in the Windstar were belted in three-point belts. The plaintiff's vehicle hit the steel coil at 55 mph with a Delta-V of 47. The plaintiff's spinal cord was severed and he sustained massive internal injuries. The plaintiff was 5+ years old at the time of the incident.
Settlement Discussions
During the sixth day of deliberations, the defendant offered $7.5 million.
Specials in Evidence
$850,000 $9.6 million and loss of earnings
Result
The gross award totaled $45,450,000 ($30,450,000 damages and $15 million punitive damages). The jury found that Ford acted with malice and fraud and awarded punitive damages to plaintiff. The net verdict against Ford is $30,341,637.
Other Information
PLEASE PROVIDE THE FIRST NAME OF DR. ________ CAVANAUGH
Deliberation
seven days
Length
23 days
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