PALM BEACH, Fla.—A jury in the 15th Judicial Circuit of Palm Beach County has ordered Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. to pay nearly $10 million in damages to a woman who claimed a Continental tire on her car was defective.
Tracey Parker originally sued Conti, Wal-Mart Stores East Inc. and a local Chevrolet dealer in the case. Parker purchased a new Chevrolet Cobalt from the dealership in April 2006, equipped with Continental Contact tires, size 195/60R15 87S, and serviced the car and tires for the next three years at her local Wal-Mart.
Parker was driving on I-95 in Stuart, Fla., in May 2009 when one of her tires allegedly suffered a tread separation, causing the car to roll over several times. She suffered what the amended complaint filed April 1, 2010 called "catastrophic bodily injuries."
Parker sued on behalf of herself; her husband, Edward Parker; and her sons, Martin Burrett, Christopher Burrett and Johnathan Parker. Among other things, she claimed that Conti was negligent in the design, testing, manufacturing and inspection of the tire. Conti flatly denied all of Parker's allegations.
Conti officials could not be reached for comment.