TOYOTA SETTLES IN CASE OF FAULTY SEAT CAUSING WOMEN TO BE RENDERED QUADRIPLEGIC

 

Rose Deborah Kennedy v. Toyota Motor Corporation; Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC and Bennett J. Woodruff
10th Circuit, Polk County, Florida

  

Deborah Kennedy was driving her 1987 Toyota Corolla in Mulberry, Florida when she was struck from behind by another driver.  As in the Charles case, Deborah’s driver’s seat collapsed backward and she too struck her head on the back of the backseat.  Just like Mrs. Charles, Deborah was immediately rendered quadriplegic. Deborah’s driver’s seat did not need to fail in this accident and had it been designed differently, it would not have. The flimsy design, however, caused Deborah to experience an injury way out of proportion to the impact. Her quadriplegia was totally unnecessary.  Toyota voluntarily agreed to settle this case for an amount that they insisted remain confidential.