Atlanta, GA — A staggering $1.7 billion verdict against Ford Motor Co. has been overturned by the Georgia Court of Appeals, prompting a new trial in the tragic case involving a fatal rollover of a “Super Duty” truck that killed a Georgia couple. This decision nullifies what had been the largest jury award in the state’s history.
The appellate judges found that a Gwinnett County judge had inappropriately sanctioned Ford during the initial trial, thereby crippling Ford’s ability to defend itself in a subsequent 2022 trial. This earlier trial had concluded with a jury blaming the automobile giant for the deaths of Melvin Hill, age 74, and Voncile Hill, age 62, determining that the design of the truck’s roof was fatally flawed.
The judges on Wednesday mandated a new trial, unsettling the legal battle that has been ongoing since the couple’s death in 2014. Ford, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, welcomed the court’s decision. A Ford spokesperson expressed the company’s readiness to demonstrate the robustness of their Super Duty trucks in the upcoming trial, highlighting that similar claims had previously been refuted in three separate cases.
Conversely, the Hills’ legal representatives responded with dismay and announced intentions to seek further review from the Georgia Supreme Court. They argue Ford intentionally staged a mistrial in 2018 to sidestep a potentially large financial judgment. Lead counsel James E. Butler Jr. conveyed his disappointment and disagreement with the appeal court’s decision, echoing a sentiment of injustice felt by the family’s legal team.
Michael B. Terry, another attorney for the Hills, critically noted that the ruling undermines the authority of trial judges to enforce court orders effectively, labeling the limited penalties available as inadequate for addressing intentional misconduct during a trial.
The ordeal began when Melvin and Voncile Hill were en route from their home in Macon County to Americus to purchase a tractor part. Their 2002 Ford Super Duty F-250 met with a severe accident, rolling over and resulting in their tragic deaths. The controversy primarily centers on whether the truck’s roof was too weak, posing a danger to occupants in such accidents.
During the 2018 trial proceedings, Ford and one of its attorneys were penalized for defying a court order that restricted testimony about the cause of death from their expert, Dr. Thomas McNish. This disobedience led to a mistrial. In the following trial overseen by Judge Joseph C. Iannazzone, jurors were advised of Ford’s previously determined liability due to the first trial’s misconduct, focusing only on the damages Ford was to pay.
The appeals court acknowledged the violation regarding McNish’s testimony but found other imposed sanctions overly severe, undermining Ford’s defensive stance. This outcome opens the door for Ford to reintroduce previously excluded evidence about how the Hills wore their seat belts and the overall safety of their vehicle design in a new trial. The trial could reconsider appropriate sanctions for Ford’s initial trial actions.
Court records also highlighted a separate but related legal issue where the jurors assigned 30% of the fault to Pep Boys and three employees, who had settled with the Hills’ children in 2018. The plaintiffs had claimed improper tire installation on the truck contributed to the fatal accident.
As the Hills’ family braces for another round in court, the legal community and safety advocates alike are watching closely, as this case could significantly influence future automotive safety standards and corporate accountability.
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