Ford Says It Will Appeal $18 Million Jury Verdict

August 7, 2006 8:45 p.m. EST
Yvonne Lee - All Headline News Staff Reporter

(AHN) - Ford Motor Co. says it will appeal an $18 million verdict handed down in a lawsuit over a fatal rollover accident.
Kathleen Vokes, a spokeswoman for the car company, says driver error was responsible for the 1999 accident.

She says the incident is a "tragic reminder" to use seat belts.

A 1995 Ford Explorer was involved in the accident that killed one person and paralyzed another.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs tell Dow Jones and Company that a jury found the victims were wearing seat belts.

The jury awarded Sonya Watson $15 million for the accident that made her a quadriplegic. Relatives of Patricia Carter, who was killed, were awarded $3 million.

Vokes accused the attorneys of promoting the "phenomenon of alleged sudden acceleration," despite evidence showing the culprit was "pedal misapplication."

The lawsuit was against Ford, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. and D and D Motors. It claimed the vehicle's seat belts and cruise control were not safe.

J. Edward Bell, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, says the jury ruled in favor of seat belt-maker TRW. However, Ford and D and D motors were found to be responsible for an unsafe cruise control system.