Sister, not automaker, is found responsible

[question everything]

Sister, not automaker, is found responsible

By BEN GOAD / The Press-Enterprise

De'Wayne Cory steered his wheelchair into a San Bernardino courtroom Tuesday with a half-smile on his face and a kind word for everyone there: the bailiffs, the court reporter, even the opposing lawyer.

In a hoarse whisper, the 35-year-old Rialto man said he wasn't nervous. He expected to be awarded a $22 million verdict from Ford Motor Co. for the 2000 injuries that left him an incomplete quadriplegic, with very little movement in his limbs.

(snip)

Frank Kelly, Ford's attorney, contended that there was nothing wrong with the car. Responsibility for the wreck lies with Cory's sister, Corrinea Ann, because she fell asleep at the wheel, Kelly said.

(snip)

The jury sided with Cory, and awarded him the entire amount he had sought -- $22,298,326.

But jurors also agreed with Kelly, concluding that the wreck was completely the sister's fault. So barring an appeal, any compensation for Cory's life-changing injuries, lost earnings and future medical expenses must come from his sister, who works at Wal-Mart.

(snip)

Reach Ben Goad at [phone] or [e-mail]

Online at: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_P_cory22.21e2c5.html

[BiggJawn]

1. Oh, boy.....That's ironic...

BTW, use "[e-mail]" and "baggage" to access this story.

Thank you bugmenot-dot-com.

[MindPilot]

2. Sorry, but I have to side with the car company on this one

AFAIK there are no regulations that mandate a roll cage of any kind in a passenger vehicle. There was no defect and no negligence on Ford's part. What if that car had been a convertible? Would the plaintiff have refused to ride in it because it might roll over?

It's a terrible tragedy to be sure, but the real cause of that poor man's injuries was his sister's loss of control of the vehicle.

And before you flame me too hard, I lost a friend last summer in a rollover crash.

[question everything]

3. Completely agree, which is why I posted the story

I think the writer deserves some award on the way he built the suspense and them...boom

[Noxmtbnk]

4. Makes perfect sense...

The sister caused the wreck. Textbook definition of "responsible" if you ask me.