Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Kia hit with $40M judgment in faulty seatbelt death case]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/28/kia-hit-with-40m-judgment-in-faulty-seatbelt-death-case/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/28/kia-hit-with-40m-judgment-in-faulty-seatbelt-death-case/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/06/28/kia-hit-with-40m-judgment-in-faulty-seatbelt-death-case/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Kia Sephia

Alabama teen Tiffany Stabler got a 1999 Kia Sephia for her sixteenth birthday in 2004. After her father purchased the car, he took it to a Kia dealership to have all of the maintenance and recall work completed. In 2002, Kia had recalled seatbelt buckles on 1995-1998 Sephias and Sportages for a condition called "false latching," wherein a belt appears to be locked into the buckle but actually isn't. Stabler's car wasn't part of the recall, even though the 1999 and 2000 Sephias used the same buckle as the 1995-1998 models.

Just four months after receiving the car, Stabler got into an accident, was ejected from the car and later died from her injuries. Stabler's mother sued Kia, Kia Motors America and Celtrion, the Korean maker of the seatbelt, for wrongful death. After five years in trial and two visits to the Alabama Supreme Court, a lower-court jury decided for the plaintiffs and issued a $40-million judgment against Kia.

Whether or not Stabler was wearing her seatbelt was disputed: plaintiff's witnesses said she was, Kia said there was evidence that she wasn't. A lawyer for Celtrion said "the seatbelt system in her vehicle was not defective when put to normal use," even though the 1995-1998 recall was occasioned by inquiries by the U.S. government about the belts. The 1999-2000 cars were recalled in 2004, after the U.S. inquired again as to why they weren't included the first time. Kia has said it will petition the court to set aside the verdict.

Kia hit with $40M judgment in faulty seatbelt death case originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1999 kia sephiaalabamacourtcourt casejudgmentkiakia sephialawsuitsephiatiffany stablerTue, 28 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19978475/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/06/28/kia-hit-with-40m-judgment-in-faulty-seatbelt-death-case/19978475/article-detail.xml 19978475 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/kiasephia1999suit_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/06/kiasephia1999suit.jpg <![CDATA[Chrysler sues Getrag over U.S.-built dual-clutch trannies]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/chrysler-sues-getrag-over-u-s-built-dual-clutch-trannies/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/chrysler-sues-getrag-over-u-s-built-dual-clutch-trannies/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/10/chrysler-sues-getrag-over-u-s-built-dual-clutch-trannies/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Chrysler has managed to stay out of the doom and gloom news for a few weeks now, which goes to show that going private can have its benefits. But things couldn't stay quiet forever, and as if the company needed something else to deal with, it's now in row with German transmission supplier Getrag over a potentially failed joint venture.

Chrysler uses Getrag double-clutch transmissions (DCT) in the Euro-version Dodge Journey (seen above), and is planning on adding the Euro Avenger and Sebring to the DCT lineup. Getrag signed an agreement with Chrysler to build a factory in the U.S. that would also supply Chrylser's American products with DCTs, and in return for Chrylser agreeing to get such transmissions only from Getrag, Getrag would get $300 million to finance and tool the factory.

According to Getrag, it only intended to borrow the funds if said funds were guaranteed by the German government. According to the German government, it would only guarantee the $300 million loan if Chrysler put that same amount in an escrow account to guarantee repayment. According to Chrysler, it had no idea of such an arrangement, and Getrag never should have signed the agreement if it meant Chrysler needed to back Getrag's loan with its own cash. And that's how court cases are made. While the factory remains in limbo, Chrysler needs to find another supplier for DCTs for its American cars, and do it in a hurry.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Chrysler sues Getrag over U.S.-built dual-clutch trannies originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When the land was flowing with milk and honey, GM didn't get medieval on folks who took just a little more than their fair share. Now that GM's diet has been pared back to a few nuts and the occasional berry... well, every nut counts. So when The General performed a random audit and found that employees had allegedly been sharing their employee discounts with ineligible buyers, instead of a big "whatever," GM initiated lawsuits.

Based on the known records, GM is trying to recoup $450,000 plus court costs and attorney's fees from at least nine court cases. In addition to offering the discounts to those who shouldn't have had access to them, GM said the the employees were using the discounts "for their own financial gain."

Some of the employees being sued no longer work for GM. Attorneys for the defendants have suggested that shady dealers simply used the employees' information to give the discounts to other buyers without the employees' knowledge or consent. At this point, no dealers are named in the lawsuits, so it's up to the employees in question to prove their innocence. And for now, when it comes to pennywise, GM isn't playing around...

[Source: Detroit News]

GM claims $450k lost to improper employee discounts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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