Jury awards $150M against Fiat Chrysler in fiery death of boy, 4, after Jeep is rear-ended
A jury in rural Georgia on Thursday awarded $150 million against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV in the death of a four-year-old boy in a fiery rear-end crash.
It found the automaker 99 percent responsible, due to the position of the gas tank in the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee., for the 2012 accident that took the life of Remington Walden, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) report.
The boy was being driven by his aunt to a tennis lesson when the Jeep was rear-ended after it slowed to make a left turn, the complaint (PDF) in the Decatur Superior Court case says.
The jury found the company failed to warn users and showed “reckless or wanton disregard for human life” in designing or selling the Jeep SUV.
A company spokesman said Fiat Chrysler was disappointed with the verdict and may appeal. In 2013, it agreed to a recall of 1993 to 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Liberty SUVs due to concerns about the fuel tank, which is mounted behind the rear axle.
However, data sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee “did not pose an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety,” said spokesman Michael Palese. Unfortunately, the jury in Walden’s case was not allowed to hear this evidence, he said.
At least 84 people have died since 1998 in accidents that resulted in Jeep fuel-tank fires, Bloomberg says.
Related coverage:
WSB-TV: “Death of 4-year-old playing key role in push for Jeep recall”
