Damages Awarded for Mental Anguish, Loss of Companionship
The jury awarded $6.25 million for past and future mental anguish and loss of companionship to each surviving member of Marin’s family. Survivors of the Zamarippa family were awarded $5 million each for similar damages. Jurors declined to award exemplary damages.
Plaintiffs Point to Withheld Evidence
Plaintiffs’ attorney Wes Ball of Kaster Lynch Farrar & Ball said Michelin fought aggressively—even appealing to the New Mexico Supreme Court—to block disclosure of internal emails and documents.
“The court denied that request,” Ball said Friday, adding that the materials presented at trial showed Michelin “made a decision to gamble with people’s lives.”
Michelin Signals Appeal
Michelin responded Monday with a statement acknowledging the family’s loss but rejecting the jury’s conclusions.
“The evidence showed at trial that the tire was seven years old, had been damaged, and had been in service approximately 70,000 miles,” the company said, adding it stands behind the safety and quality of its products and plans to pursue all available legal avenues to overturn the verdict.
Representatives for Discount Tire could not immediately be reached for comment.
