Family of student killed when SUV axle broke has been awarded $12 million by Anderson jury
An Anderson County jury has awarded $12 million to the family of a 17-year-old high school senior killed in 2012 after an axle fractured on her vehicle, causing her to be trapped for two hours.
The jury award came after five years of litigation, brought by Donald L. Dial as personal representative of Lacee Dial, who died in the accident, against Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Sales USA and A&P Automotive Inc., the used car dealership where the vehicle was purchased.
Toyota initially denied many of the lawsuit's allegations, and the plaintiffs eventually dropped claims of negligence and recklessness, court records show
This verdict reminds companies that they will be held responsible for defective products that kill people, Chris Glover, Beasley Allen Atlanta managing attorney and plaintiffs counsel, said in a statement. The defendants knew the vehicle that killed our clients daughter was unreasonably dangerous, yet they refused to take responsibility for Lacees needless death. This family faced one of the largest corporations in the world in a tough case. Toyota told them they would never take responsibility. This is why the jury system is so important. Its the only place this family could get justice for their daughter.
Read more: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2018/06/02/family-student-killed-2012-suv-accident-awarded-12-million/663501002/