Judge orders new trial in Ford lawsuit (1995 Explorer Rollover Crash Case)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070322/ap_on_bi_ge/ford_rollover_lawsuit


TULSA, Okla. - A U.S. federal judge has thrown out a $15 million jury verdict and ordered a new trial for a lawsuit against Ford Motor Co. by a Tulsa couple whose son died in a rollover crash in November 2003.

Tyler Moody, 18, lost control of a 1995 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle while he was passing another vehicle in a no-passing zone on a curve. His parents, Kevin and Veronica Moody of Tulsa, filed the lawsuit.

U.S. Chief District Judge Claire Eagan vacated the jury's ruling against Ford and ordered the case retried beginning July 16.

Eagan said Ford showed in post-trial motions the jury had been prejudiced by the conduct of Clark Brewster, the attorney for the Moodys. Eagan said that considering the size of the verdict, the proper thing to do is to order a new trial.

Brewster said Wednesday that Eagan's basis for the decision involved matters that Ford's attorneys didn't object to during the trial.

Ford attorney Mary Quinn Cooper disagreed, however, and said the company looks forward to retrying the case.

Tyler Moody, 18, lost control of a 1995 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle while he was passing another vehicle in a no-passing zone on a curve.

:huh:

His family must not have received the Darwin Award cash prize they were hoping for.

i think cases like these need a bench trial, not a jury trial. jurors will tend to sympathize with the plaintiff and go against a big company like Ford. Ford shouldn't be held liable for their son's death. He was the dumbass passing in a no passing zone.