$35 Million Jury Verdict Stuns Custom Car Industry; Young Music Man Brain Damaged When Seat Belts in Converted Van Fail.Business Editors & Legal Writers LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 7, 2000 The custom car capital of the world received a wake-up call today as an unprecedented $35 million jury trial judgement was entered against defendant Auranco/Coachman Industries, a manufacturer of custom seat belt conversion packages. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the lawsuit, on Oct. 29, 1994, a vehicle driven by an intoxicated in·tox·i·cate v. in·tox·i·cat·ed, in·tox·i·cat·ing, in·tox·i·cates v.tr. 1. To stupefy or excite by the action of a chemical substance such as alcohol. 2. driver, Daniel Winer, crossed over the center line of Forest Lawn Forest Lawn is the name of a number of different places:
The Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan are minivans manufactured by the Chrysler Group (DaimlerChrysler from 1998). driven by John Borgia, now age 25. The van had been modified by Aero Vans to include captain's chairs mounted on a pedestal On a Pedestal is an EP by the Swedish band Adhesive, released in 1998. Track listing
Winer struck the van at 35 to 40 mph. in his Pontiac and walked away from the accident unharmed because he was wearing a proper seatbelt. However, the seats in the converted van came off the seat tracks and the seat belts broke apart allowing John Borgia to strike his head violently on the steering column as if he was unrestrained causing massive and irreversible brain damage. He cannot speak or use his lower extremities. At trial, evidence showed no safety testing had been done on the total seat belt system in the converted Caravan as is required pursuant to FMVSS FMVSS Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards regulations. The jury was presented with the facts concerning the musical talent and professional experience of John Borgia, the Plaintiff. Just before the accident he recorded three songs which were played for the jury. The jury asked for the songs to be played again during its 11 days of deliberations. "Everyone agreed John had talent and potential," said famed serious injury attorney Edward Steinbrecher, one of his attorneys. John continues to suffer severe brain damage. For almost five years, John has been a resident of a county nursing home and has now moved to a private residence with three shifts of nurses attending him. "The verdict will enable John to obtain the best medical care and rehabilitation to maximize his potential," Steinbrecher said. The jury apportioned ap·por·tion tr.v. ap·por·tioned, ap·por·tion·ing, ap·por·tions To divide and assign according to a plan; allot: "The tendency persists to apportion blame as suits the circumstances" 25 percent liability for the injuries to Auranco/Coachman Industries. "The net judgement after offsets for prior settlements is $17 million," said Steinbrecher. The trial took seven weeks and was tried in front of Judge Henry Shatford. Note to Editors: John Borgia v. Aurance/Coachman Industries Case No. BC137050 Superior Court County Los Angeles-Judge Henry Shatford. |
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