Jury Finds Ford Liable

LA Times ^ | 10/22/05 | Bloomberg News

[CSM]

Link only, per what I am interpreting as our copy write rules.

Bottom line, Ford has been found liable for failing to properly warn the public not to recline in their seats while driving. Oh, and to not prop their feet up on the dashboard and take a nap. For some strange reason, Ford is supposed to make sure people understand that cars don't drive themselves.....

All this to the tune of $16.95 millioin.

[Graybeard58]

Or anybody who wants too can click on my screen name, scroll down past that handsome young man you see there and use my log in info for the L.A.T. (and others)

[Cobra64]

playing poker with the passengers while on long trips

As a friend always says: Poker? I don't even know her!

When we lived in CO, we'd go into old mining towns in the mountains. And found a bar that had a sign that read:

Liquor in the front --- poker in the rear

[GunnyHartman]

" Juries are typically idiots when they come to these types of awards"

I was just on a jury selection this AM and was not selected to participate. Maybe it was my response to the question, what did you think about your last jury? (My response: A waste of time, the plaintiff was guilty of running a red light and causing the accident but still wanted 100K because her and her kid were injured, but not critically. There was no way we should have gone to court, it was a total waste of time and money). That was all it took for the two ambulance chasers to disqualify me.

[Cobra64]

This is the same caliber jury action that required lawn mower manufacturers to issue a warning about stopping the engine before removing the blade.

Reminds me of the warning labels on disposable butane lighters:

Do no Use Near Fire or Flame

[Cobra64]

Well, wait until there are 5-point Simpson Racing harnesses in the next Volvo hybrid.

[Cobra64]

You beat me to it. I heard the same story. See my post below.

[Phantom Lord]

It's not often that I break out laughing when here on FR. But you got me with that statement!

I'm not going to tell you the quote I am most famous for on here. If you found my car seat comment worth breaking out laughing you would pee your pants with my famous quote.

It has to do with free republic addiction and wives.

[Phantom Lord]

This was a tragic accident caused when the driver fell asleep at the wheel and drove into a stationary ambulance, Vokes said in an e-mailed statement

Will there be an additional judgement for the owners manual failing to warn people against falling asleep while driving?

[brianl703]

The owner's manual warns against that.

[Cobra64]

I am sick a having stupid warning labels in my car.

I agree. And you can't even peal them off.

Pretty soon you will see this in your next car. A big friggin neon that says:

Warning!!! You Are Too Stooopid to Operate This Vehicle Do NOT Operate This vehicle For Any Reason

[Cobra64]

Please FReep mail me. I like clever jokes and one liners.

[brianl703]

Owner's manual for the 1996 Contour says:

To reduce the risk of serious injury in a collision, always
drive and ride with your seatback upright and the lap
belt snug and low across the hips.

There's a big exlamation point in a triangle symbol above this next to the word WARNING in big, bold letters. (Exclamation point in a triangle is unversal language for "hey dumbass, this is important!")

[tioga]

you are right, pure bull.

[Young Scholar]

Apparently the jurists have no understanding of economics.

Simply put, the average juror (like the average voter) is stupid, or at least not even close to smart enough to be dealing with $17 million.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

Why have reclining seats at all? If you're not supposed to use them when riding in the car, what's the point?

I know that my answer isn't as exciting as the others, but when I'm driving long distances and pull over to a rest area to take a nap, I'm very happy that my seat reclines.

[Phantom Lord]

Alright, here it is. There was a thread about FReepers being addicted to Free Republic and spending way to many hours a day on FR. So I said...

"My wife will yell up to me on the computer and say "are you on Free Republic again? I just tell her "No honey, I'm looking at porn."

[brianl703]

The owner's manual for the 1998 Windstar says on page 135:

(exclamation point in triangle symbol) WARNING
Always drive and ride with your seatback upright and
the lap belt snug and low across the hips.

[headstamp]

"I read about that story where a guy set the cruise control and got up from the driver's seat and went in back. Unbelievable."

"Sorry, urban legend. Either never happened or it did happen but did NOT result in a lawsuit -- can't remember which."

Thanks, it's amazing how it is totally believable though in this day of ridiculous lawsuits.

[Cobra64]

Same situation happened to me. She said, "Okay" and left me alone. LOL

[Cinnamon]

God just make it end...