ABA JOURNAL
By Martha Neil
A bankruptcy judge in New York has approved a $24 million settlement over a Chrysler longshoreman killed in a California auto accident.
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury originally awarded a little more than $55 million to the family of 38-year-old Richard Mraz, who died of head injuries after he was run over by a Dodge pickup truck in 2004 at the port of Los Angeles. The automaker’s subsequent bankruptcy complicated the situation, although an appeal bond guaranteed the payment of the verdict, according to the Associated Press and the Detroit News.
At issue in the products liability case was whether the truck slipped into reverse on its own after Mraz left it running and whether Chrysler adequately warned him of the issue reported by other drivers. Chrysler contended at trial that the accident was caused by Mraz’ own negligence.
