Date: 04-29-1999

Case Style: Hession, et al. v. Ford Motor Company

Case Number: 96-CI-00202

Judge: Robin Overstreet

Court: Circuit Court, Scott County, Kentucky

Plaintiff's Attorney: Richard Rawdon, Sam Davies, Chuck Adams, Bob Elliot, Joe Savoy and Linda Hepgood, Georgetown, Kentucky

Defendant's Attorney: Paul Hulten (sp?), Todd Thompson and Lee Mikus, Louisville, Kentucky

Description: Products liability - Ford Econoline - rollover - wrongful death. The estates of two passengers to were killed, a 15-year-old passenger who lost and arm and the driver of a Ford Econoline van bought suit damage in the Circuit Court of Scott County, Kentucky. The accident occurred on August 6, 1995, when the van was sideswiped by another car on Interstate 75 near Georgetown, Kentucky. The van was carrying 15 people at the time of the accident who were one their way to a horse show. Ford claimed that the driver overcompensated after the van was struck by the other car and that those killed were not wearing safety belts. Ford denied any defect in the van. Plaintiffs asserted that the van was prone to rollover and was structurally unsound.

Outcome: Verdicts for the two estates for $6.75 million each, $6 million to the girl who lost an arm, and $500,000 to the driver who was injured.

Plaintiff's Experts: Melvin Richardson, Randy Whitman and Robert Hooten

Defendant's Experts: Lee Carr, Don Tandy and Mischele Vogler (sp?)

Comments: None