Rosalinda S. Zamora
Jaime A. Saenz, asked to become involved in this case at the beginning of the year, was one of four attorneys representing Ford Motor Company in this 2003 Ford Explorer rollover case. Plaintiff was ejected from the vehicle, suffering a significant brain injury, requiring 24 hour a day future medical care. Medical expenses to the time of trial were $595,000, and the life care plan of a range of $5.8 Million to $6.5 Million was uncontested. Plaintiffs had settled with Cooper Tire & Rubber Company prior to trial, making their only defect claim a handling claim against Ford. Jury selection began on January 21, 2008, and evidence proceeded after that. On February 1, 2008, the jury returned a verdict finding the Plaintiff 35% responsible and Ford 65% responsible for his injuries and damages, which they assessed at $10 million (with reductions for the percentage of Plaintiff’s responsibility and a credit for Cooper Tire & Rubber’s settlement, the judgment is expected to be approximately $5 million. Post-verdict procedural developments are pending.
