Representative Cases and Sample Settlements
Texas Product Liability Lawyers
Auto SUV and Truck Design Defects / Tire Defects
Type of Case: Motor Vehicle
Allegations: Plaintiff drove a 1991 Ford Explorer south bound on U.S. Highway 87 in Mason County, Texas. As plaintiff was driving along in the outside lane, the left rear tire suddenly and unexpectedly detreaded, and caused a loss of control and subsequent rollover of the vehicle. During the rollover, the nine occupants were injured and/or killed. Defendant Ford manufactured the Ford Explorer, and the various Titan Defendants manufactured the subject tire. The Titan Defendants bought the tire design and plant from Defendant Pirelli. Plaintiffs brought strict products liability and negligence claims against Defendants for defective and unsafe design and manufacturing processes related to the Explorer and tire.
Result: Confidential Settlement
Tire Defects
Type of Case: Strict Products Liability for Defective Vehicle Design/Roof Crush Against Honda and Isuzu and Defective Manufacture and Design of Tire as to Michelin.
Allegations: Plaintiff was traveling north on Federal Highway 57 near El Huizache in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico in a 1998 Honda Passport equipped with a tire that made the basis of this suit mounted on the right rear position. The tire was a Phantom A/P steel radial tire size P245/70R15, a private brand tire designed and manufactured by Michelin North America, Inc. and Michelin Americas Research and Development Corporation. While traveling down Highway 57, suddenly and without warning, the subject tire suffered a tread and belt separation. As a result, the Plaintiff lost control of the vehicle and subsequently rolled over several times suffering fatal injuries.
Result: Confidential Settlement
Auto SUV and Truck Design Defects
Type of Case: Products Liability - Crashworthiness and Occupant Restraint; Common Law Negligence Against Defendant
Allegations: Plaintiff was a passenger in a 1996 Ford Explorer driven by a friend. They had just left their place of employment at the end of a work day and were heading southbound on Interstate Highway 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada when they were struck in the rear by a vehicle driven by Defendant. The Explorer that made the basis of this suit, went out of control and rolled over several times. Although belted, Plaintiff was partially ejected and suffered fatal injuries.
Result: Confidential Settlement
Trucking Accidents
Type of Case: Tractor-Trailer Eighteen-Wheeler Accident
Allegations: Plaintiffs were traveling northbound on FM 685 near Hutto, Williamson County, Texas. As the vehicle in which Plaintiffs were traveling entered the intersection on Highway 79 with a green light to make a left turn, Defendant, while operating a truck for his employer - U.S. Food Service, disregarded a red light and crashed the tractor-trailer eighteen-wheeler he was operating into the vehicle in which Plaintiffs were traveling. The impact's violent force caused Plaintiffs' serious and permanent damages and injuries claimed herein.
Result: Confidential Settlement
Tire Defects
Type of Case: Strict Products Liability for defective manufacture of tire.
Allegations: Plaintiff was employed as a driver for CUSA EE, LLC, D/B/A EL EXPRESO when he was killed while operating a bus owned by CUSA EE, LLC, D/B/A EL EXPRESO. Plaintiff was traveling south on IH 35 near Fischer Road in San Antonio, Texas, when suddenly and without warning, the left front tire suffered a partial tread and belt separation. As a result, the plaintiff lost control of the bus causing it to go across the median and into the oncoming lanes of traffic heading north on IH 35 and collided with two semi-tractor trailers. Plaintiff was killed as a result of the incident. The tire that made the basis of the suit was a Firestone FS 400, steel corded radial tire, size 315/80 R22.5, bearing DOT number 4D 4D 35C 2105, a tire designed and manufactured by BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE, LLC, at the Morrison, Tennessee plant.
Result: Confidential Settlement
Workplace Injuries
Type of Case: Gross Negligence against employer, Tire Centers, LLC, workers compensation subscriber.
Allegations: Plaintiff was an employee of Tire Centers, LLC when he was killed by being crushed underneath a Volvo front-end loader. Plaintiff was sent by his employer, Tire Centers, LLC, to install new tires on a new Volvo front-end loader. Plaintiff was sent to install new tires without the proper equipment or necessary help to safely perform the job. Instead of being provided with a Ford F-550 mini-boom truck to safely lift and install the tires onto the front-end loader, Plaintiff was sent to perform the job with a Ford F-250 pickup truck lacking the proper lifting equipment to lift and install the heavy off-the-road tires. Because it was late in the day, Plaintiff resorted to getting help from the yard man of the owner of the front end-loader and to using other equipment belonging to the owner of the front-end loader. After lifting the Volvo front-end loader, Plaintiff placed two jack stands underneath the rear axle. Plaintiff then proceeded to use a mini backhoe excavator to lift the tires and place them onto the Volvo front-end loader. Plaintiff, after installing one of the rear tires, crawled underneath the front-end loader to remove one of the jack stands and as he was doing so, the front-end loader slipped off of the jack stands and crushed him to death. Prior to the incident, two employees of Tire Centers, LLC, the then Service Manager and the other, now the Center Manager, had stopped by to deliver some valve stems to Plaintiff. These employees failed to stay and help Plaintiff or provide him the proper equipment or manpower to safely perform the job.
Result: Confidential Settlement