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Ford ordered to pay

$5.8 in Bronco suit

HOUSTON: A Texas judge Friday slashed a $25 million jury award against Ford Motor Co. but still ordered the company to pay $5.8 million for the 1993 death of a woman killed in the rollover of a Bronco II sport-utility vehicle.

A jury decided on the larger amount in June, but State District Judge Shearn Smith cut the award in accordance with state laws limiting damages in product liability lawsuits.

Ford spokesman Jon Harmon said the automaker expected the reduction, but said it would still appeal the decision.

The jury originally awarded actual damages of $2.5 million in the case and $22.5 million in punitive damages on the finding that Ford had been negligent in its design of the Bronco II sport-utility vehicle.

But the jury also found Ford had not acted maliciously in designing and marketing the Bronco II, which under Texas law limited the amount of punitive damages and led to the judge's reduction.

The jury's decision that the Bronco II had a defective design that made it susceptible to rollovers was the first such finding against Ford. In six previous cases in state and federal courts, no negligence was found.

The automaker has settled more than 300 Bronco-related lawsuits.

The latest case was filed by the family of Jennifer Cammack, a 21-year-old who was a passenger in a 1987 Bronco II when it rolled over near the town of Schulenberg, Texas. She died of massive chest injuries shortly after the accident.

Mike Kerensky, attorney for the Cammack family, said once Ford files its appeal, he will file an appeal to strike down as unconstitutional Texas laws putting a cap on lawsuit awards.

The Texas legislature passed laws this year greatly limiting damage awards in lawsuits.-Reuter