Hagood & Neumann LLP Recently Won A $10 Million Dollar VerdictHagood & Neumann LLP recently won a $10 million dollar verdict in La Salle County (Cotulla), TX. The case involved a 1993 Ford Explorer. The client, a 40 year old man was driving with his female friend in the passenger front seat and her 3 kids in the back seat. The left rear tire detreaded and then blew out. The client was able to control the Explorer for a few seconds until it started an oversteer problem to the right. It went off the road rolling over several times ejecting the driver. He ended up approx 20 feet from where the vehicle ended up. Hagood & Neumann alleged a design case against Ford for its rear suspension allowing the vehicle to tramp and skate. There were studies and internal documents indicating this vintage Explorer had this design problem and the fix was to move the shock absorbers closer to the wheels and/or make them stiffer. There was a dispute whether the client was seat-belted at the time of the accident, but it was undisputed that the seat belt had been modified--- the lap portion of the seat belt had been cut long before the accident, leaving only the shoulder portion. There were some proven maintenance problems with the vehicle, too. The jury found both Ford and the client at fault, assessing 65% against Ford and 35% against the client. The client suffered a traumatic brain injury and is permanently mentally deficient in his cognitive abilities and needs constant attendant care. Jury assessed $10 million in damages total which will, of course, be reduced by the 35% assessed against the client. Net to the client is less expenses and attorney fees. Gene Hagood with Hagood, Neumann & Huckeba, L.L.P., Argued Not to Dismiss Case on a Defendant Aircraft Company's Motion to Dismiss Based on the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA).Gene Hagood with Hagood, Neumann & Huckeba, L.L.P., argued to a judge on Friday, April 27, 2007 in Seattle, Washington, that 7 families’ cases should not be dismissed on a defendant aircraft company’s motion to dismiss based on the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA). The case involves an aircraft that suffered an in-flight break-up alleged to be due to rudder flutter, crashing to the ground killing all 7 crew and passengers aboard. Mr. Hagood, on behalf of the families, claimed that GARA did not apply because the defective product at issue was a Service Bulletin issued by the aircraft company that was alleged to be insufficient to fix the rudder problem and there were misrepresentations, concealment and withholding of information to the FAA by the aircraft’s manufacturer during type certification and issuance of the Service Bulletin. The aircraft company denies these allegations. The judge’s decision is pending. Bill Neumann of Hagood, Neumann & Huckeba, L.L.P. is Preparing for Expert Depositions on an Alleged Tire DefectBill Neumann of Hagood, Neumann & Huckeba, L.L.P. is preparing for expert depositions on an alleged tire defect that caused the rollover of an SUV in South Texas killing and seriously injuring its passengers. The defendant denies any responsibility. Hagood, Neumann & Huckeba, L.L.P. is Preparing for a Trial Involving an Alleged Defective Medication PumpHagood, Neumann & Huckeba, L.L.P. is preparing for a June 11, 2007 trial in Laredo, Webb County, Texas involving the claims of the surviving family of a wife/mother who was killed because of an alleged defective medication pump. The defendant pump manufacturer denies any responsibility. Hagood, Neumann & Huckeba, L.L.P. is Currently Responding to a Motion for Summary Judgement in an Alleged E. Coli Poisoning CaseHagood, Neumann & Huckeba, L.L.P. is currently responding to a Motion for Summary Judgment filed against their client by a local store arising out of a case of alleged E. coli poisoning from the consumption of a meat product purchased at the store. The client claims that the meat was infected with a virulent strain of E. coli that caused severe illness. The store denies any responsibility. Hagood & Neumann, L.L.P. SuperLawyer Articles
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