Street v. Daimler Truck North America, LLC., et al

Case Background

Leonard and Tracy Street filed a product liability case against Daimler Truck North America, LLC, and others after Leonard, a tractor-trailer driver, was rendered a quadriplegic due to a rollover crash that happened when another motorist crossed the centerline. They alleged the tractor and its seating system were defective and failed to protect him during the rollover.

The case was filed in the First Circuit Court, Alabama. Judge Perry Newton presided over the case. [Case number: 23-900002]

Cause

On the morning of June 22, 2022, Leonard Street, a 60-year-old experienced truck driver, was operating a 2023 Western Star 4700 SF semi-truck owned by his employer, Scotch Plywood, Inc. The truck, pulling a 45-foot trailer loaded with plywood, was traveling east on AL 84 in rural Clarke County near Grove Hill.

Meanwhile, Loran Richardson, driving a 2019 Ford F250 pickup truck for his employer, Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc., was traveling in the same area. Richardson’s vehicle was also towing a 45-foot trailer.

As the two vehicles approached each other, Richardson crossed the centerline into Street’s lane and struck his driver’s side wheel. The collision caused Street to lose control of his truck, which then rolled over. Street had been traveling at approximately 37 mph when the rollover began.

During the rollover, the roof of Street’s tractor cab was crushed, and the air suspension seat in which he was seated propelled him upward toward the roof.

Injury

The forces involved in the rollover caused Street to sustain a neck fracture and a spinal cord injury. As a result, he became an incomplete quadriplegic. While he lost most of his mobility, he retained some function and sensation.

Damages

Compensatory and punitive damages were sought under this lawsuit. Additionally, Street’s wife, Tracy Street, filed a derivative claim for her loss of consortium.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal Representation

  • Defendant(s): Daimler Truck North America, LLC | Richardson and Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. | Western Star Truck Sales, Inc. | CVG Alabama, LLC
    • Counsel for Defendant(s): H. Lanier Brown, II | Karmen E. Gaines | Jennifer A. Rogers | Robert D. Keahy | Lee B. Ziffer
    • Experts for Defendant(s): James Chinni

Key Counsel Remarks And Arguments

The lawsuit raised concerns about the truck’s design, as explained by Benjamin Baker of the Beasley Allen Law Firm, who represented the plaintiff.

Baker pointed out that the truck’s roof structure and suspension seat were problematic. However, Daimler Truck North America contested these allegations.

“We stand by the safety of our products and our safety testing (including cab crush) meets and exceeds all industry standards in place in the U.S. and worldwide,” a Daimler spokesman stated. “We have strong grounds for appeal and intend to pursue this action.”

The lawsuit centered on the truck’s design rather than the crash’s specific circumstances.

Baker noted that Daimler had previously engaged in research regarding truck cab design and seating systems. He mentioned that Daimler collaborated with Indiana Mills and Manufacturing Inc. to create an alternative suspension seat with additional features.

According to Baker, this seat design became available as an option in Freightliner trucks in 2007 and in Western Star trucks starting in 2017. Baker claimed that the truck involved in Street’s accident lacked this optional seat.

Claims

It was later revealed that Daimler Truck North America, LLC had designed and manufactured the tractor involved in the crash. Daimler produced this line of tractors for its client, Western Star Truck Sales, Inc. CVG Alabama, LLC, doing business as National Seating, had contributed to the design of the tractor’s seating system.

Following the crash, Street filed a lawsuit against Richardson and Dothan Tarpaulin Products, Inc. He held Richardson responsible for causing the crash and sought vicarious liability from Dothan Tarpaulin.

Street also filed suit against Daimler Truck North America, LLC, Western Star Truck Sales, Inc., and CVG Alabama, LLC. He claimed they were liable for the allegedly defective design and manufacture of the tractor and its seating system.

Throughout the litigation, the Plaintiffs reached settlements with Dothan Tarpaulin and CVG Alabama. Under these agreements, Leonard received $2,850,000, and Tracy received $2,000,000. Following these settlements, the Plaintiffs dismissed all defendants except Daimler Truck and Western Star.

The Plaintiffs dismissed all claims based on negligence. The litigation then continued against the remaining two defendants, focusing on claims under the Alabama Extended Manufacturers Liability Doctrine (AEMLD), wantonness, and loss of consortium.

The Plaintiffs specifically alleged two main issues: 1) the tractor’s roof strength was insufficient, and 2) the driver’s seat was defective.

Defense

Daimler Truck and Western Star defended the case, denying any wrongdoing. They specifically argued that their design and manufacture of the tractor were not defective.

Expert Testimony

The Plaintiffs presented a wide range of expert witnesses in the case. These included Bryant Buchner, Accident Reconstruction (Tallahassee, FL), Steven Meyer, Seating System Design (Goleta, CA), Paul Lewis, Jr., Biomechanics (Roswell, GA), Brian Herbst, Vehicle Structure Design (Goleta, CA), Shelly Savant, Life Care Plan (Lafayette, LA), and Robert Johnson, Economics (Los Altos, CA).

Meyer opined that the air suspension seating used in the tractor was inherently dangerous. He explained that it tended to propel occupants into the tractor’s roof during rollover events. Meyer also highlighted that safer alternative designs were available, which could have prevented Street’s injuries. James Chinni served as a key defense expert on seat design.

Jury Verdict

The case was tried over two weeks in Grove Hill. On September 6, 2024, the jury found in favor of the Plaintiffs and awarded Leonard $75,000,000 in compensatory damages, along with an additional $75,000,000 in punitive damages. Tracy received $10,000,000 for her consortium claim.

This brought the total award for the Plaintiffs to $160,000,000. After applying set-offs for the amounts the Plaintiffs had received in settlement, the court entered a judgment of $155,150,000.

Post-Trial Motion

The Defendants filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that the verdict was inconsistent with the weight of the evidence.

Court Documents:

Available upon request

Press Release

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