Stacy94PGT

Jury finds against Ford

Detroit Free Press
Compiled from Associated Press and Bloomberg reports.

A Florida jury said Friday that Ford Motor Co. should pay $16.95 million to a 35-year-old woman who was paralyzed when she slid under her seat belt during a collision, her attorney said.

Tami Martin was reclining in the front passenger seat of a 1998 Windstar when it hit another vehicle, injuring her spinal cord, said Robert Langdon, her attorney. He said Ford failed to warn of the dangers of using reclining seats while a vehicle is in motion.

"Ford will warn you when your windshield fluid is low, but they won't warn you about this," Langdon said. "Ford's sales brochure says the seat reclines, making it great on long trips."

A jury in Jacksonville, Fla., found that Ford didn't properly warn Martin and was responsible for her injuries.

Ford will appeal and expects the verdict to be reversed, spokeswoman Kathleen Vokes said.

"This was a tragic accident caused when the driver fell asleep at the wheel and drove into a stationary ambulance," Vokes said in an e-mailed statement. "The air bag deployed as it should have, but the passenger was reclined in her seat with her feet resting on the dashboard."

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Stacy94PGT
My first car was a 67 Mustang Coupe, 2nd one was a 67 Cougar XR-7, 3rd one was a 66 Mustang Coupe. Why did I get rid of these cars for ? I know why, because I'm stupid, stupid, stupid.

My next Ford.....