Fla. judge cuts jury award in Ford tire valve case

MIAMI (Nov. 14)—A Florida state court judge has cut a jury award to the family of a comatose child from $15.4 million to $13 million, Ford Motor Co. said. The judge was reviewing the decision in the case of Ramon and Maria Jimenez, whose rented Ford van rolled over because of a faulty tire valve installed by Ford. Phoebe Jimenez, who was 10 at the time of the crash in 1999, suffered brain damage and is in a permanent vegetative state. The original jury award already had been halved from $30.7 million because Phoebe Jimenez hadn't been wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. A Ford spokeswoman called the award reduction a reminder from the court that seat belts can help protect passengers only when they are worn. The spokeswoman said the auto maker will decide later whether to pursue further appeals in the case.