Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center ® has become aware of a jury trial verdict in Georgia against Chrysler. A jury found Chrysler responsible in the death of a 4-year-old Georgia boy in a fiery Jeep crash and ordered the auto maker to pay $150 million in damages.
The verdict caps a trial that renewed scrutiny of older sport-utility vehicles with fuel tanks that regulators spotlighted as vulnerable in rear-end collisions. The jury found the company acted with “reckless or wanton disregard for human life in the design or sale” of the Jeep SUV and failed to warn that the vehicle was hazardous.
In 2013 Chrysler agreed to recall millions of Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs with model years ranging from 1993 to 2007 to address concerns about their fuel tanks. The Grand Cherokee at the center of the Georgia lawsuit is among a set of vehicles the company is inspecting as part of a “customer satisfaction campaign” in lieu of a recall. The company is installing trailer hitches on the backs of Jeeps to add protection in lower-speed collisions.
The verdict could draw further attention to Fiat Chrysler’s handling of older sport-utility vehicles that regulators at one point linked to 51 deaths. Fiat Chrysler has so far avoided the kind of recall scrutiny received by General Motors Co. over defective ignition switches and Takata Corp. on account of rupture-prone air bags. The latter companies have faced fines from regulators, hearings on Capitol Hill and Justice Department probes over their safety problems.
If you have a question regarding your Jeep Grand Cherokee or Liberty or any Fiat/Chrysler vehicle, you should call the experienced lemon law attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Our lemon law attorneys will take time to talk to you about your rights and will let you know if they can help. Visit www.YOURLEMONLAWRIGHTS.com or call 1-800-US-LEMON to submit your information to see if we can help.