Attorney James Edward Butler III's Legal Cases

Personal injury

Bates v. Michelin North America

N/A

OUTCOME: Confidential Settlement

Johnny Earl Bates and his wife Patricia were driving to visit family on Christmas Day when their Uniroyal Laredo tire--which had been manufactured by Michelin--failed. The tread separated from the tir ... e carcass, causing the vehicle to swerve and roll over. In the wreck, Mr. Bates suffered brain damage and quadriplegia. During the course of the litigation, as a result of Michelin's misconduct, the Court entered issue preclusion sanctions, determining as a matter of law that the tire was defective and unreasonably dangerous. Michelin settled just before trial. The settlement amount is confidential at Michelin's request.

Personal injury

Walden v. Chrysler

N/A

OUTCOME: $150,000,000 Jury Verdict

Chrysler designed the 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, 1993-2001 Jeep Cherokees, and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberties with fuel tanks located low and behind the rear axle. Predictably, when the vehicles are hi ... t from the rear, the tanks can rupture. When the Jeep Grand Cherokee in which my clients' son was riding was rearended, the tank ruptured, fuel spilled, and the vehicle burned. My clients' son was killed in the fire. We took the case to trial. The jury determined that Chrysler acted recklessly and failed to warn of a known danger, and imposed a verdict of $150 million. Of that verdict, 99% was apportioned to Chrysler, and 1% to the striking driver.

Personal injury

Sheppard v. CSRA

N/A

OUTCOME: Confidential Settlement

Two employees of a commercial motor carrier were putting speed ahead of safety as they drove though rural Washington County one night. As a result they collided with my clients, a father and son retur ... ning from the son's band practice. We located the witnesses who proved that the motor carrier was at fault, and the company decided to settle before we brought the matter to trial.

Personal injury

Hatfield v. TFX Incorporated, Ford Motor Company

N/A

OUTCOME: Jury Trial Followed by Confidential Settlement

As Mrs. Hatfield and her family drove down Interstate 16 in a 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis, a tractor-trailer merged into their lane struck the car in the rear. The car was forced off the road, then it ... rolled over. Tragically, Ford Motor Company had manufactured the car with a defectively weak roof. When the roof hit the ground, the portion over Mrs. Hatfield caved in and struck her in the head, forcing her head forward and down. The collapsing roof broke her neck, leaving Mrs. Hatfield paralyzed from the neck down. On behalf of Mrs. Hatfield and her husband, we filed suit against the trucking company and Ford Motor Company. We took the case all the way through trial, completing a 2.5-week trial on October 2. When the jury announced that it had reached a verdict, but before the jury could announce what the verdict was, Ford made an offer to settle the case. The Hatfield family accepted. The amount of the settlement is confidential at Ford's request.

Personal injury

Smith v. Ajuzie

N/A

OUTCOME: Confidential Settlement Three Days before Specially Set Jury Trial

Malcom Smith, an eighteen-year old college student and professional dancer, was riding in the back seat of a friend's car when another driver made an illegal left turn. The car smashed into the car Ma ... lcom was riding in, paralyzing him from the waist down. We took the case and prepared for trial. We were ready. On the Saturday night before a trial specially set for Tuesday, the defendants gave in and agreed to a confidential settlement that will provide funds to Malcom for the rest of his life. The amount exceeded the defendant's policy limits by a substantial amount.

Personal injury

Ford v RJ Haynie

N/A

OUTCOME: settled during trial for $460,000

Our client was struck from behind by a commercial truck. We took the case to trial. On day one of the trial, the truck company settled with our client for more than 13 times his past medical bills.

James Edward Butler III's Legal Cases (6)

Bates v. Michelin North America

Walden v. Chrysler

Sheppard v. CSRA

Hatfield v. TFX Incorporated, Ford Motor Company

Smith v. Ajuzie

Ford v RJ Haynie