Historic Results in Faulty Fuel System Litigation
A misplaced fuel tank in a Chevy Malibu exploded when the car was rear-ended by a drunk driver in 1993. Two adults and four children suffered serious burns in the fire.
Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, attorney Christine Spagnoli was a member of the trial team that filed suit against GM in 1994 and, five years later, won a $4.9 billion verdict on behalf of her clients. The result was largest personal injury verdict in the U.S. in 1999 and among the largest plaintiff's verdicts in American judicial history.
Critical Evidence
Two pieces of evidence were crucial to winning the case.
- The first was an internal GM memo that showed GM knew its design was unsafe, but decided not to fix the problem because a safer alternative would cost $6 more per car.
- The second piece of evidence involved the results of a crash test presented by GM lawyers in order to prove that the fuel tank was safe. Instead, the tank leaked and the true results were exposed at trial.
It took years of tireless work against an army of opposing attorneys, but our legal team proved that GM put profits over people, injuring our clients and putting thousands of others at risk.
Put Our Knowledge and Strength on Your Side
Our lawyers have prevailed in many other cases that involved faulty fuel systems that caused explosions and post-collision, fuel-fed fires. We understand fuel systems and how devastating fuel system defects can be.
One gallon of gasoline packs the same explosive potential as six sticks of dynamite.
We have represented clients in cases like the one above, where fuel tanks were placed in the crush zone or outside of the protective frame. In addition, we have prevailed in cases involving faulty filler necks and anti-siphoning devices, and other defects that cause fuel to leak.
If you were harmed or a family member died because of a defective fuel system, let us put our knowledge, experience and strength to work for you. Contact Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP.
We represent clients in Los Angeles, throughout Southern California, California and the nation.