Gozukara v. Ford Motor Company, et al.

Outcome: $14,900,000.00

Description: This historic case was the first verdict in American history where a jury in Barstow, after a four-month trial, found the Ford Explorer to be defective in rollover propensity. On May 24, 1997, the Gozukara family was driving in their 1994 Ford Explorer on the I-15 freeway to Las Vegas. When Mr. Gozukara braked and swerved to avoid an encroaching vehicle, the Ford Explorer vibrated violently causing loss of control before the Explorer rolled over multiple times. Mrs. Gozukara was rendered quadriplegic and other members of the family suffered severe injuries. Garo Mardirossian, as chief trial attorney for plaintiffs, established that the Ford Explorer was defectively designed.