Defense Verdict for an Automotive Client in Product Liability Case

Huie attorneys Alan Thomas, Jennifer Egbe, and Ryan Baker recently secured a defense verdict for an automotive client in a product liability case.

The Challenge

Plaintiff sued Honda in the Mobile District Court when a Co-Defendant intentionally wrecked their 2007 Toyota Solara into the Plaintiff’s decedent’s 9th generation 2014 Honda Accord Sedan in an offset frontal collision. Plaintiff claimed that the front crash structure of the 2014 Honda Accord was defective and that the 2014 Accord should have been designed with a wider bumper and a different front structure to engage better in small offset collisions, much like the 10th generation Honda Accord that was built a few years later.

Our Approach

Huie approached this case head on by showing the jury that the 9th generation Honda Accord was not defective, was an IIHS top safety pick, and was the highest rated vehicle when comparing crash safety performance amongst peer sedans in 2014 as well as the severity of the crash.

Results

A defense verdict was secured for the automotive manufacturer.