October 6, 2016 — The Herald Palladium reports that a quadriplegic man from Ohio has been awarded $16 million by a jury who blamed his injuries on a defective tire made by Goodyear Tire & Rubber.
The lawsuit was filed by Harry Patel, who was paralyzed in a rollover accident after a tire blowout. The incident occurred in 2012 when he was driving a Nissan Pathfinder at 70 mph on U.S. 31 in Berrien County.
Attorneys for Goodyear said Patel might have hit something in the road, causing tread separation on the tire.
After two weeks of testimony, the jury spent two days deliberating. They ultimately awarded Patel $1.3 million for past medical expenses, $7 million for 24-hour medical care for the rest of his life, $3 million for past pain and suffering, and $250,000 per year for future pain and suffering.
This is the second time the case has gone to trial. The first ended in a mistrial when the jury was unable to make a decision. According to Patel’s son, “We knew from day one we wanted to see this through.”
Attorneys say the verdict could be reduced due to Michigan laws involving product liability lawsuits. Goodyear also said it plans to appeal the decision to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
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