ST. JOSEPH, Mich.—A jury in a Berrien County, Mich., trial court has awarded $16 million to a man who claimed the accident that paralyzed him was caused by a defective Goodyear tire.
Harishkumar Patel, 58, was driving from his home in South Bend, Ind., to Benton Harbor, Mich., on June 6, 2012, when his Nissan Pathfinder overturned on U.S. Highway 31 in Berrien County. Since the accident, Patel has been confined to a wheelchair.
The accident was caused by the failure of the right rear tire, according to the complaint. The tire was a Goodyear Pathfinder All Terrain, size LT 31x10.50R15, according to Goodyear. Patel claimed the tire was inherently defective. Goodyear, however, said the failed tire had been damaged by a road hazard.
The first trial in the case ended in a hung jury, in October 2014. On Oct. 5, 2015, however, a new jury awarded Mr. Patel $1.3 million for past medical expenses, $7 million for 24-hour medical care, $3 million for past pain and suffering, and $250,000 for future pain and suffering.
“Goodyear is disappointed in the verdict and reviewing its options,” a company spokesman said