Unanimous Defense Verdict in Seat Belt Case

On August 12, 2022, Huie partner Tom Bazemore successfully secured a unanimous defense verdict for Ford Motor Company in a seat belt case. The two-week long jury trial took place in the 19th Judicial District Court for the Parish of East Baton Rouge in Louisiana.

The case involved a single vehicle rollover accident which resulted in significant injuries to the Plaintiff passenger. Plaintiff claimed that the seat belt system in the vehicle caused her injuries and sought nearly $40 million in past and future damages. Ford contended that Plaintiff could not show that an alternative seat belt design would have prevented her injuries. The jury unanimously concluded that the seat belt system in the subject vehicle was not defective and returned a verdict for Ford Motor Company.