Michelin Detread Leads to Big Verdict
A Texas jury said a unit of Michelin, the world’s second-largest tiremaker, should pay $11.96 million for a crash that killed six people and paralyzed a 12-year-old boy in 2006. The jury in Raymondville, Texas, found today that a manufacturing defect in a Goodrich tire designed by the French company was a substantial factor in causing the crash. The tire failed and caused a pickup truck to swerve into oncoming traffic, according to court documents. “The jury found that broken air conditioners and leaky roofs cause moisture to get on tires, which led to this tread- belt separation,” Mikal Watts, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said in an e-mailed message. “We are grateful the jury saw the evidence as it was — there was a manufacturing defect in this tire, and Michelin needed to pay for the damage it caused. A voice-mail message left at a Michelin office wasn’t immediately returned. The case was Cruz v. Michelin North America Inc., 2007-cv- 141-A, 19th Judicial District, Willacy County, Texas (Raymondville).
A Rio Grande Valley jury has returned a verdict of nearly $12 million against a tire maker after determining that a defective tire caused a wreck that killed six people and left a 12-year-old boy paralyzed. Thhe Willacy County panel found that a manufacturing flaw in the Goodrich tire made by South Carolina-based Michelin North America substantially contributed to the New Year’s Eve 2006 crash outside Matamoros, Mexico, the McAllen Monitor reported. A tire on a 2002 Ford F-250 pickup truck separated from its tread, causing the vehicle to swerve into oncoming traffic, according to court documents. The truck collided with a Chevrolet Suburban, killing all six passengers inside the SUV.
Tire defects continue to be serious issues affecting everyone on the road. When a tire detreads there can be extremely tragic results. If you suspect someone you know has experienced a tire delamination or detread, they should immediately contact an attorney.
