Isuzu Trooper Rollover

Corn, 60, was driving a 2000 Isuzu Trooper sport-utility vehicle (SUV) when the vehicle rolled over. The roof crushed in on the driver's side, and the tempered side glass shattered. Although Corn's seat belt was latched, her head was partially ejected from the vehicle. She suffered fatal trauma injuries to her head and neck. Corn, who was retired at the time of her death, is survived by her husband.

Rob Ammons was retained to represent Corn's husband and Corn's estate. Plaintiffs sued Isuzu Motors Ltd., the manufacturer of the vehicle, alleging it was uncrashworthy because of the defects in the seat belt system, roof, and tempered glass. Specifically, Plaintiffs claimed (1) the driver's seat belt system had allowed for excessive movement during the rollover, causing Corn to contact structures and objects inside and outside of the vehicle; (2) the roof was not strong enough to withstand the foreseeable forces of a rollover, compromising her survival space; and (3) Defendant's use of tempered, rather than laminated, glass, in combination with the collapsing roof, had allowed partial ejection of Corn's head. Plaintiffs claimed that despite knowledge of the defects and of the likelihood of a rollover, Defendant chose not to conduct tests to determine the adequacy of the vehicle's restraints in rollovers even though procedure for such testing had been developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Corn v. Isuzu Motors Ltd., Tex., Harris County 165th Jud. Dist. Ct., No. 2003-01783

Rob Ammons negotiated a confidential settlement for his client.