A 51-year-old Vermont woman has been awarded a $43.1 million jury verdict against the manufacturer of a car seat that allegedly collapsed during a 2007 car accident, leaving her a paraplegic.
The award is believed to be the largest civil verdict in state court in Vermont history.
Dzemila Heco of Essex Junction was injured on Aug. 4, 2007, when the car she was driving was rearended.
Heco’s lawyers argued the car seat back collapsed, causing severe spinal-cord injuries. Heco was wearing a seat belt.
The jury returned the judgment Friday against Johnson Controls, Inc., of Milwaukee after a two-week trial.
The Burlington Free Press reports Johnson Controls disagreed with the verdict. The company says the seat exceeded all government and industry standards. The company is considering an appeal.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Hedge Funds Are Hiring Experts in Catastrophe Risk 
IBM, AT&T Accused by Whistleblower of Covering Up Foreign Hacks 
Starbucks to Take AI Usage into Account in Tech Workers’ Bonuses 
Deadly Screwworm Parasite Found in US Threatens Cattle Herd 
Want to stay up to date?
Get the latest insurance news
sent straight to your inbox.