Supreme Court lets stand award in Ford SUV lawsuit
The Supreme Court has left in place an $82.6 million award to a woman who was paralyzed after her Ford Explorer rolled over.
The justices Monday rejected Ford Motor Co.'s challenge to the portion of the award, $55 million, that was intended as punitive damages. Ford argued that it should not be punished because its design of the vehicle met federal safety standards.
A California state appeals court earlier rejected Ford's contention and upheld the award to Benetta Buell-Wilson.
She 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.
Source: Supreme Court lets stand award in Ford SUV lawsuit
The justices Monday rejected Ford Motor Co.'s challenge to the portion of the award, $55 million, that was intended as punitive damages. Ford argued that it should not be punished because its design of the vehicle met federal safety standards.
A California state appeals court earlier rejected Ford's contention and upheld the award to Benetta Buell-Wilson.
She 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.
Source: Supreme Court lets stand award in Ford SUV lawsuit
