From Tire Review

A Florida jury ruled unanimously agreed that Michelin North America Inc. and Takata Corp. were not responsible for a 2009 rollover accident that resulted in two minors sustaining brain injuries and injuring one adult.

In the high-profile product liability case, Dukes v. Michelin North America Inc., the plaintiffs claimed the accident and injuries were due to tire and seat belt defects. The plaintiffs’ lawyers asked the jury to award the victims more than $80 million in damages. The jury ruled that the original tire was not defective, but rather the tire was damaged when previously in service and then purchased used. In addition, the jury ruled that the plaintiffs were not wearing seat belts.

The tiremaker said the following in a statement: “Michelin respects the work the jury did to reach its decision. While we sincerely regret this tragic accident and the devastating effects it has had on the Dukes family, the evidence presented throughout the nine-week trial showed that the subject tire was not defective. Evidence proved that the tire was well-designed and well-manufactured but had been previously damaged during its service life and then sold used. The case again highlights the inherent risks of purchasing a used tire. Michelin will continue to vigorously defend the world-class quality of its products and the high-level work of its engineers in these types of cases.”