Wheeler v. Ford

Summary

Product liability jury trial based on allegedly defective rear seat occupant protection system of the 2002 Ford Explorer that left plaintiff a permanent, complete quadriplegic.

According to the plaintiff, a frontal vehicle collision occurred when a vehicle crossed the center line and struck the Explorer. Upon impact, the Explorer's rear seat allegedly broke and moved down and forward, and the restraint system, including the seat, belt, and surrounding surfaces, failed to prevent the plaintiff's head and neck from being driven down and forward into the front seat and/or center console, catastrophically injuring the plaintiff's spinal cord.

The jury had already awarded damages of $17.7 million judgment and was still out considering punitive damages when Ford settled the case.

View a free video clip from the case:
Plaintiff's Attorney, James E. Butler Jr., delivers opening statement -- Clip 1

Outcome

Settled

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Wheeler, Douglas
Defense: Ford Motor Co Inc
Stanley, John

Judge: Morris Braswell
Jurisdiction: Superior Court of Georgia, Clayton County
Court: Harold R. Banke Justice Center

Case Number: 2007CV05570E
Industry: Automotive
Practice Area: Products Liability, Tort Law

Plaintiff

Wheeler, Douglas

Defense

Ford Motor Co Inc

Defense

Stanley, John

Represented By:
Waldon, Russell (Harper, Waldon & Craig, LLP)

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:12:40	Opening Statement	Butler, James
01:07:25	Opening Statement	Klein, Thomas
02:00:05	Opening Statement	Waldon, Russell
02:04:05	General Case Activities

DEC

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Linton, Kenneth	Video Recording
00:21:45	General Case Activities
00:31:59	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Jones, Robert	Video Recording
01:48:20	Break
02:02:01	Witness Cross Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Jones, Robert	Video Recording
02:49:35	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Jones, Robert	Video Recording
03:09:49	End of Session

DEC

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:03	General Case Activities
00:00:40	Witness Direct Examination	Butler, James	Mayfield, William	In Person
00:18:00	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Mayfield, William	In Person
00:27:36	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Butler, James	Mayfield, William	In Person
00:34:45	Witness Cross Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Moran, Sean	In Person
00:48:56	Witness Direct Examination	Barnes, L'erin	Cofield, Jimmy	In Person
01:05:06	Witness Cross Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Cofield, Jimmy	In Person
01:33:50	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Cofield, Jimmy	In Person
01:40:39	General Case Activities
01:50:05	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Cofield, Jimmy	In Person
01:50:43	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Barnes, L'erin	Cofield, Jimmy	In Person
01:52:45	General Case Activities

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Weiver, Jeff	In Person
00:26:22	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Weiver, Jeff	In Person
00:38:47	General Case Activities
00:49:10	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Weiver, Jeff	In Person
01:07:14	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Weiver, Jeff	In Person
01:10:57	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Weiver, Jeff	In Person
01:12:28	Break
01:24:51	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Kirk, Ronald	In Person
02:31:25	Witness Cross Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Kirk, Ronald	In Person
03:02:09	End of Session

DEC

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Biss, David	In Person
01:14:12	Break
01:37:03	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Biss, David	In Person
01:52:27	Witness Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Biss, David	In Person
02:58:37	General Case Activities
03:00:26	Witness Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Biss, David	In Person

DEC

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Biss, David	In Person
00:45:20	Break
01:20:30	Witness Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Biss, David	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

19 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Biss, David	In Person
00:03:38	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Biss, David	In Person
00:08:37	General Case Activities
00:09:44	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Biss, David	In Person
00:53:02	General Case Activities
00:53:49	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Biss, David	In Person
01:00:07	General Case Activities
01:01:16	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Biss, David	In Person
01:10:15	Break
01:29:22	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Biss, David	In Person
02:12:25	General Case Activities
02:14:56	Witness Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Kam, Allan	In Person
02:49:49	General Case Activities
02:52:19	Witness Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Kam, Allan	In Person
03:02:35	General Case Activities
03:05:12	Witness Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Kam, Allan	In Person
03:25:17	Break
03:28:58	Witness Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Kam, Allan	In Person
03:34:25	General Case Activities

DEC

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Kam, Allan	In Person
00:33:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Kam, Allan	In Person
00:33:40	General Case Activities
00:36:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Kam, Allan	In Person
00:48:44	Break
00:55:10	Witness Direct Examination	Butler, James	Burton, Joseph	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Butler, James	Burton, Joseph	In Person
01:02:38	Break
01:23:43	Witness Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Burton, Joseph	In Person
03:29:50	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Burton, Joseph	In Person
03:36:50	End of Session

DEC

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Butler, James	Burton, Joseph	In Person
00:40:00	General Case Activities
00:40:49	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Butler, James	Burton, Joseph	In Person
00:46:30	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Burton, Joseph	In Person
01:26:28	Break
01:45:52	Witness Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Lin, Dr. John	Video Recording
02:23:00	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Lin, Dr. John	In Person
02:33:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Lin, Dr. John	In Person

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Willard, Kathy	In Person
01:28:20	Break
01:51:52	Witness Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Willard, Kathy	In Person
01:53:38	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Willard, Kathy	In Person
02:13:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Willard, Kathy	In Person
02:14:55	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Willard, Kathy	In Person
02:16:57	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Willard, Kathy	In Person
02:18:25	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Coston, Robert	In Person
02:44:04	General Case Activities
02:45:52	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Coston, Robert	In Person
02:57:15	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Coston, Robert	In Person
03:22:03	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Coston, Robert	In Person
03:23:24	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Coston, Robert	In Person

DEC

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

16 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:06	Witness Direct Examination	Butler, James	Rogers, Elizabeth	In Person
00:19:45	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Rogers, Elizabeth	In Person
00:21:14	Witness Direct Examination	Barnes, L'erin	Alexander, James	In Person
00:37:17	Witness Direct Examination	Barnes, L'erin	Brown, Susan	In Person
00:54:10	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Brown, Susan	In Person
00:57:50	General Case Activities
01:14:30	Witness Direct Examination	Butler, James	Wheeler, Lynn	In Person
01:21:07	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Wheeler, Lynn	In Person
01:22:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Butler, James	Wheeler, Lynn	In Person
01:24:03	Witness Direct Examination	Butler, James	Wheeler, Douglas	In Person
01:40:22	General Case Activities
01:41:08	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Wheeler, Douglas	In Person
01:45:33	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Butler, James	Wheeler, Douglas	In Person
01:46:55	General Case Activities
01:47:14	General Case Activities
02:03:53	Witness Direct Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Benson, Dr. Brent P.E.	In Person

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Benson, Dr. Brent P.E.	In Person
00:21:40	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Benson, Dr. Brent P.E.	In Person
00:23:44	Witness Cross Examination	Fryhofer, George	Benson, Dr. Brent P.E.	In Person
00:41:45	General Case Activities
00:43:46	Witness Cross Examination	Fryhofer, George	Benson, Dr. Brent P.E.	In Person
00:50:05	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Benson, Dr. Brent P.E.	In Person
00:55:50	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
01:23:45	General Case Activities
01:51:28	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
02:05:12	General Case Activities
02:05:59	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
02:21:36	General Case Activities

DEC

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
00:26:58	General Case Activities
00:29:11	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
00:39:34	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
00:42:26	Break
00:52:27	Witness Cross Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
01:27:58	General Case Activities
01:29:04	Witness Cross Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
01:32:53	General Case Activities
01:34:23	Witness Cross Examination	Hamilton, Allan	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
01:36:45	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

14 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
00:05:23	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
00:10:50	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Pearson, Jeffery	In Person
00:14:35	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
00:44:26	General Case Activities
00:46:28	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:05:14	General Case Activities
01:06:59	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:42:43	Break
01:57:05	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
02:11:18	General Case Activities
02:21:42	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
02:55:53	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
03:06:55	End of Session

DEC

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Butler, James	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:06:04	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:21:24	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:23:55	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Butler, James	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:30:19	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Smith, Dr. Harry M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:33:09	Break
01:52:54	Witness Direct Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Welch, Dr. Jane	In Person
02:31:04	General Case Activities
02:32:24	Witness Direct Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Welch, Dr. Jane	In Person
02:55:08	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Welch, Dr. Jane	In Person
00:15:00	Witness Cross Examination	Butler, James	Welch, Dr. Jane	In Person
00:27:47	General Case Activities
00:28:40	Witness Cross Examination	Butler, James	Welch, Dr. Jane	In Person
01:01:20	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Welch, Dr. Jane	In Person
01:09:33	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Butler, James	Welch, Dr. Jane	In Person
01:11:00	Break
01:36:30	Witness Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Burnett, Mr. Roger	In Person
03:15:36	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Burnett, Mr. Roger	In Person

DEC

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

20 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:05	Witness Cross Examination	Fryhofer, George	Burnett, Mr. Roger	In Person
00:43:57	General Case Activities
00:44:30	Witness Cross Examination	Fryhofer, George	Burnett, Mr. Roger	In Person
00:54:24	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Burnett, Mr. Roger	In Person
01:16:37	General Case Activities
01:17:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Burnett, Mr. Roger	In Person
01:17:58	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Fryhofer, George	Burnett, Mr. Roger	In Person
01:20:32	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Klein, Thomas	Burnett, Mr. Roger	In Person
01:21:15	Break
01:39:07	Witness Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Stanley, John	In Person
01:55:52	Witness Direct Examination	Waldon, Russell	Stanley, John	In Person
01:58:44	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Stanley, John	In Person
01:59:46	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Waldon, Russell	Stanley, John	In Person
02:01:33	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Stanley, John	In Person
02:02:19	Witness Cross Examination	Butler, James	Stanley, John	In Person
02:03:02	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Boorman, Michael	Stanley, John	In Person
02:03:20	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Butler, James	Stanley, John	In Person
02:04:05	General Case Activities
02:05:24	Witness Direct Examination	Butler, James	Wheeler, Douglas	In Person
02:05:55	General Case Activities

PM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

DEC

AM Session

Closings

6 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

4 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

DEC

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Punitive Phase

17 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:04	General Case Activities
00:01:00	Opening Statement	Butler, James
00:05:35	Opening Statement	Klein, Thomas
00:10:53	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Coston, Robert	In Person
00:20:20	Witness Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Coston, Robert	In Person
00:45:44	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Coston, Robert	In Person
00:48:59	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Coston, Robert	In Person
00:49:13	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Coston, Robert	In Person
00:50:06	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Coston, Robert	In Person
00:54:07	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Coston, Robert	In Person
00:56:37	General Case Activities
01:12:10	Closing Statement	Klein, Thomas
01:24:46	General Case Activities
01:25:33	Closing Statement	Klein, Thomas
01:29:22	Closing Statement	Butler, James
01:50:33	General Case Activities
01:54:42	End of Session

AM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

PM Session

Punitive Verdict

3 Chapters

DEC

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Wheeler v. Ford

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:30	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Linton, Kenneth	Video Recording
01:02:50	Break
01:06:50	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Linton, Kenneth	Video Recording
01:51:40	General Case Activities
01:52:35	Witness Cross Examination	Klein, Thomas	Linton, Kenneth	Video Recording
02:31:03	General Case Activities

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:49	Witness Cross Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Kirk, Ronald	In Person
00:29:17	Witness Cross Examination	Waldon, Russell	Kirk, Ronald	In Person
00:30:49	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Kirk, Ronald	In Person
00:47:29	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Jacobson, Jill	Kirk, Ronald	In Person
00:51:19	Break
01:08:20	Witness Direct Examination	Fryhofer, George	Biss, David	In Person

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:57	Closing Statement	Waldon, Russell
00:21:10	Closing Statement	Klein, Thomas
01:43:28	Break
02:00:51	Closing Statement	Butler, James
02:53:27	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:09	Closing Statement	Butler, James
00:56:27	Break
01:06:13	General Case Activities
01:09:14	General Case Activities

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:11	General Case Activities
		00:01:44	Reading of the Verdict
		00:04:23	General Case Activities
		00:08:00	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:27	General Case Activities
		00:02:03	General Case Activities
		00:10:45	End of Session