Kentucky Court Dismisses $30 Million Suit Against Ford - Ford Forums

Stacy94PGT · 08-23-2002, 07:30

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Thge AP reported that jurors on Thursday dismissed a $30 million lawsuit against Ford Motor Co. over the death of a woman killed in a low-speed traffic crash.

Tim Struttman sued Ford and Morton International - now Autoliv Inc. - in 1999, alleging his wife died after the air bag in her 1997 Mercury Sable inflated, causing a neck injury. Morton manufactured the air bag.

Mr. Struttman said by phone Thursday that he was disappointed with the ruling. "The jury calls the shots," he said. "But I had to take a chance, I had to do something."

His attorney, Ron Hillerich, said he doesn't expect to appeal.

Ford officials applauded the jury. "We agree with the court's decision," said Kathleen Vokes, a company spokeswoman. "We're committed to the safety of all our customers."

The suit said Lynn Struttman, who was 4 feet 9 inches tall and 105 pounds, would have survived the crash if adjustable pedals - which allow drivers to sit farther from the steering column - had been available in the 1997 Sable. The suit claimed Ford was negligent because it knew of the safety benefit of adjustable pedals long before it began offering them.

Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford, the world's No. 2 auto maker, introduced adjustable pedals in 1999 on its Explorer and Lincoln Navigator sport-utility vehicles. But the company began testing the option in the early 1990s, according to Hillerich. The option is now one of Ford's best-selling extra features.

Ford acknowledged the safety benefit of the adjustable pedals but said it never tried to market the devices that way.

Carol Browning, attorney for Morton, said the company couldn't be held responsible for Struttman's death since the air bag did exactly what it was supposed to.

The mother of three was killed after making a left turn at low speed into oncoming traffic. She was wearing a safety belt and had a seat cushion behind her back because of her short legs.