Trial Activity

Adelita Reyna, as next of kin of to Lauro Reyna, Jr. a minor and each Individually and as heir to Lauro Reyna, Sr., Deceased; Rafael Reyna, Individually and as heir to Lauro Reyna,Sr., Deceased; Guadalupe Reyna, Individually and as heir to Lauro Reyna, Sr., Deceased v. Ford Motor Company and Rodriguez Auto Sales, Inc., Cause No. C-1303-03-G in the 370th Judicial District Court of Hidalgo County, Texas, Judge Noé González presiding. Jaime A. Saenz and Alison D. Kennamer of the firm defended Ford Motor Company in this single-vehicle rollover accident of a 1996 Ford Taurus in which driver Lauro Reyna, Sr. was partially ejected and received a crushing fatal head injury. The only other defendant, the dealership, was non-suited shortly before trial. Plaintiffs alleged defects in the restraint system consisting of alleged seat belt retractor spool-out and that the use of tempered rather than laminated glass in the side windows was a defect. Ford contended that there was no spool out and that Mr. Reyna’s height and accident forces simply forced his head out of the plane of the window. Ford also contended that the use of tempered glass in the side windows was not unreasonably dangerous and that laminated glass would not have made a difference in this accident. Trial began when jury questionnaires were administered on December 4, and a jury selected on December 5, 2006; opening statements followed by evidence started December 11, 2006; closing arguments took place on December 19, 2006. The jury deliberated for approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and returned with a complete defense verdict, finding no defect and placing negligence on Plaintiff’s decedent. The verdict was subject to a confidential “high-low.”