Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Spokane Jury Rejects Lawsuit Against Ford in Rollover Case

SPOKANE, Wash. --- In a case involving a Bronco II SUV rollover dating back to 1999, a federal jury has rejected claims that Ford Motor Co. was responsible for the injuries of a 13-year-old girl.

by Staff
March 20, 2008
2 min to read


SPOKANE, Wash. --- In a case involving a Bronco II SUV rollover dating back to 1999, a federal jury has rejected claims that Ford Motor Co. was responsible for the injuries of a 13-year-old girl.

Ad Loading...

The nine-member U.S. District Court jury delivered its verdict on Tuesday, March 11. The girl's family had sought $30 million. Crystal Bear, now 21, is paralyzed on one side of her body. She was a backseat passenger in the car driven by her sister, Marla Bear, who was 16 at the time of the accident, the Associated Press reported.

Ad Loading...

The jury ruled that Marla Bear was entirely responsible for her sister's injuries.

The Bear family had argued that Crystal wasn't wearing a seatbelt because of a defective design. According to court testimony, the accident occurred when Marla Bear was driving her Bronco and became briefly distracted when she looked over her shoulder to see whether Crystal had fastened her seat belt. When the 1984 SUV drifted onto the shoulder, Marla oversteered and a rollover resulted.

This case's verdict came just one day after Ford lost an appeal in a $82.6 million Explorer rollover lawsuit in San Diego, Calif. The 4th District Court of Appeal was asked by the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case after Ford appealed the award, AP reported.

This accident occurred in January 2002, when Benetta Buell-Wilson was driving on an interstate east of San Diego and suddenly swerved to avert a metal object. She lost control of her 1997 Explorer and it rolled over four-and-a-half times, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. The roof had collapsed on her neck and severed her spine, according to testimony.

A jury originally awarded Buell-Wilson $369 million, including $246 million in punitive damages. But subsequent court decisions cut the size of the award. The $82.6 million approved by the appeals court includes punitive damages of $55 million, AP reported.


More Safety

Safe Driving on Halloween over spooky fall road
Safety•by Staff•October 25, 2026

Tips for Driving Safely on Halloween Night

This video features a reminder from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, urging drivers to prioritize safety this Halloween.

Read More →
a crash test dummy in a car
Safety•by Jeanny Abraham•October 22, 2026

IIHS Crash Avoidance Tests Reveal Safety Gaps in Cargo Vans and Work Trucks

New IIHS crash avoidance ratings show uneven performance among cargo vans and heavy-duty pickups, with most struggling to avoid vehicle-to-vehicle collisions.

Read More →
AN AF news recap thumbnail
Safety•by Faith Howell•October 16, 2026

What’s Next for Fleet? Safety, AI & Industry Recognition | AF News Recap

Could your company's culture be encouraging distracted driving? This week, we're exploring how workplace expectations affect driver safety, what AI, EVs, and autonomous vehicles could mean for the future of fleet management, and how fleet professionals can strengthen their award nominations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
a man driving with a cell phone in his hand.
Safety•by Jeanny Abraham•October 14, 2026

Does Your Fleet's Culture Encourage Distracted Driving?

What happens when the people responsible for enforcing safety rules are the ones setting the wrong example? The answer may reveal why some of the biggest risks to fleet drivers have little to do with what's written in the employee handbook.

Read More →
Motorq Whitepaper Cover - Fleet Managers Ultimate Playbook
Sponsored•October 1, 2026

Fleet Manager’s Ultimate Playbook: Navigating the New Standard in OEM Connectivity

Rising operating costs, driver safety concerns, and unplanned downtime are putting unprecedented pressure on modern fleets. Discover how fleet managers use embedded OEM connectivity and real-time vehicle data to cut TCO, prevent downtime, and protect drivers without aftermarket telematics hardware.

Read More →
An AF news recap thumbnail with a woman pointing at the title "From driver well-being to EV charging"
Safety•by Faith Howell•September 21, 2026

From Driver Well-Being to EV Charging | AF News Recap

Mental health belongs in the fleet safety conversation. This week, we’re looking at five ways fleets can support employee well-being before a crisis, plus Holman’s expansion in Mexico, new one-day Fleet Forward passes, and why EV charging demand is outpacing infrastructure growth.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Nexar and nauto logos
Safety•by Staff•September 15, 2026

Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset

Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.

Read More →
Two fleet employees talk beside work trucks beneath the words “Mental Health Is Fleet Safety,” highlighting the connection between employee mental health and fleet safety.
Safety•September 15, 2026

Don't Wait for a Crisis: 5 Ways to Build Mental Health Into Your Fleet Safety Program

For Suicide Prevention Month, fleet and safety leaders have an opportunity to put mental health where it belongs: at the center of workplace safety.

Read More →
hands covering toy car with digital widgets surrounding it
Safety•by Chris Brown•September 1, 2026

How Camera Data Can Strengthen a Fleet’s Insurance Renewal

Insights from a commercial insurance carrier and a broker show how fleets can turn video telematic data, driver coaching, and improved claims results into a stronger case at insurance renewal.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
An image to reflect an article on how the safest fleets aren't the ones with the most tech.
Safety•August 11, 2026

The Safest Fleets Aren’t the Ones with the Most Technology

You’ve made the telematics investment. Here’s how to capture the other half of its value and build the safest fleet on the road.

Read More →