Additionally, Ford asked the court to dismiss the plaintiffs’ failure-to-warn claim, labeling it a duplicate of the design defect claim. The automaker argued that the plaintiffs failed to show how any specific warning could have prevented the crash or the resulting injuries.
Background of the Case
Brogdon Jr. and his siblings filed the lawsuit in May 2023, holding Ford liable for the deaths of their parents, Debra Sue Mills and Herman Edwin Mills, after the roof of their truck collapsed during a rollover crash. The complaint alleges that Ford knew for two decades that the roofs of Super Duty trucks built between 1999 and 2016 were dangerously weak and defective. This case follows a record-setting $1.7 billion verdict in a similar lawsuit brought by Kim and Adam Hill, whose parents died when the roof of their Ford Super Duty truck failed in a 2014 crash.
The court has already ruled that eight documents from the Hill trial be made public, despite Ford’s objections that they should remain under seal. This decision could impact the current case as it proceeds.
Ford Rollover Suit Hearing : Next Steps
Ford’s motions are now before the court, which will determine whether the claims for punitive damages, as well as the specific claims related to Debra Mills’ death, will proceed to trial. The outcome could have significant implications for Ford’s ongoing legal battles concerning the alleged roof defects in its Super Duty trucks.
