Jeep explosion, Walden family awared £100m exposed design weakness

A US jury of 11 women and 2 man, has awarded £100M ($150m) to the Walden family of a four-year old boy that died in a crash involving a Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2012, after a nine-day trail that Chrysler acted with reckless disregard for human life in selling the family of Remington, a 1999 Jeep with a gas tank mount behind the rear axle, and they failed to warn the family that the tank’s position could increase the risk of a fire.

Remington Walden, four-year-old died, after the Jeep he was travelling was struck from behind by a truck, which ruptured its rear fuel tank and engulfing the jeep in flames. Chrysler will pay 99% of the sum and the driver of the other vehicle 1%. They ruled that the Waldens should get $30 million for Remi’s pain and suffering and $120 million for the full value of his life, according to a verdict form.

In 2013 Chrysler recalled 1.56 million Jeep SUVs built between 1993-98 with similar rear fuel tanks. The model Remington died in was built in 1999 and was therefore not among those recalled. Chrysler said that the 1999 model was not defective and dangerous.