Ford Settles Class Action Regarding Ford Explorers and Rollovers
You remember back in 2001 or so, all the publicity about Ford Explorers rolling over and a big fight between Ford and its tire supplier about who was at fault; bad manufactured tires or a poorly designed vehicle. Well a class action was also filed at that time in California claiming that all that bad publicity reduced the resale value of the Explorers. After 7 years, Ford has settled these lawsuits which involve people in California, Connecticut, Illinois and Texas with Explorers of model years 1991-2001. Its one of those deals where the plaintiff's lawyers made a lot of money....reported to be $25 million...and all the consumers received were $500 vouchers to buy a new Explorer. Thanks, but in times of gas being almost $4.00 /gallon, what the heck do I want with another of your poorly designed vehicles which suck down gas. Even being a plaintiff's attorney, I have to say I'm not sure this is the best deal for the consumer. The judge indicated "It's not perfect...but its likely that a lot of people would have gotten nothing." The plaintiff's lawyer added that it also helped to contribute to safer vehicles.
Having done automobile products liability work for 18 years representing the car manufacturers
before I became a plaintiff's lawyer, I feel very confident that to the extent Ford has improved the design of its SUVs including the Explorer, it has been related to the countless number of lawsuits related to the severe injuries and death caused by a vehicle which was unreasonably unstable with a significant potential to rollover on dry smooth pavement. I'm not sure this action really would have had much effect on Ford changing the design of its vehicles. I have to agree on this one that the plaintiff's lawyers.....and the defense lawyers charging Ford very high hourly rates, were the real winners in this matter.
