Date: 04-20-2005

Case Style: Dora Jablonski individually and on behalf of the Estate of John Jablonski v. Ford Motor Company

Case Number: Unknown

Judge: Unknown

Court: Circuit Court, Madison County, Illinois

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Brad M. Lakin, The Lakin Firm, Wood River, Illinois

Defendant's Attorney:

James P. Feeney of Dykema Gossett PLLC, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Description:

Dora Jablonski sued Ford Motor Company individually and on behalf of the estate of her deceased husband for the injuries she sustained and for her husband's death on a products liability theory after their 1993 Lincoln Town Car caught on fire and burned in July 2003 near Granite City, Illinois. The Plaintiff claimed that the vehicle was defective and unreasonably dangerous because the fuel tank was located under the trunk behind the rear axle. Dora was severely burned and John was killed by the fuel fed post-accident fire.

Ford claimed that the fuel tank was in the best location for the Town Car.

Outcome: Plaintiff's verdict for $43.8 million.

After deliberating for 4 hours a jury returned the following damages:

For John Jablonski:

$67,715.20 for medical expenses
$500,000 for disfigurment and disability
$1,000,000 for pain and suffering
$3,500,000 for loss of society

Total $5,067,715.20

For Dora Jablonski:

$1,700,000 for medical care (past and future)
$1,900,000 for medical assistance (past and future)
$6,500,000 for disabilty
$6,500,000 for pain and suffering
$6,500,000 for disfigurment

Total: $23,100,000

Punitive Damages: $15,000,000

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: None