FEATURED VERDICT: Ford Hit with $1.7 Billion Punitive Verdict In Fatal Rollover Case

Wrongful Death

Hill v. Ford Motor Company (State Court of Georgia, Gwinnet County Mo. 16-C-04179-S2): on August 19, 2022 jury entered a $1.7 billion punitive damages award against Ford Motor Company, the largest in Georgia History, regarding a case where a Georgia couple was killed during a rollover involving a 2002 Ford Super Duty F-250. The accident occurred in 2014 when the F250 the Hills were driving rolled over after blowing out a tire. The rollover resulted in the roof caving in, killing the Hills. Plaintiffs argued that Ford engineers were aware of the defective roofs in these trucks for years but failed to strengthen them to save costs, citing to dozens of other accidents resulting in death or significant injury. Ford argued that this accident was an outlier, and that the roofs in question were adequately designed. Prior to the punitive award, plaintiffs were granted $24 million in compensatory damages. Plaintiffs were represented by Butler Prather LLP.