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SETTLEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Case No.: 238487-AEW
Kern County, California Superior Court
Angela Wong, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al.
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PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEYS:
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Raymond Paul Johnson
Donn W. Christensen
Law Offices of Raymond Paul Johnson
10990 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1150
Los Angeles, California 90024
Telephone: (310) 246-9300
Arnold W. Schwartz
Mazursky, Schwartz & Angelo
10990 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 1200
Los Angeles, California 90024
Telephone: (310) 478-5838
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DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEYS:
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Gary T. Walker, Esq.
Preuss, Walker & Shanagher LLP
225 Bush Street, 15th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104-4207
(415) 397-1730
Richard Shapiro, Esq.
Snell & Wilmer LLP
One Arizona Center
Phoenix, AZ 85004-0001
(602) 382-6000
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EXPERTS:
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None declared by either side at time of settlement
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TYPE OF CASE:
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Product Liability/Rollover/Restraint System Design;
2 fatalities
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DATE OF COLLISION:
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June 7, 1997 |
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ROLLOVER LOCATION:
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California State Route 14 (approximately 3.7 miles
south of State Route 178) Kern County, California
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PRODUCT INVOLVED:
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1994 Toyota 4Runner
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PLAINTIFFS' AGES AT ACCIDENT:
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Wing Wong, Age 67 (driver)
Tina Wong (deceased), Age 64
Albert Wong (deceased), Age 57
Angela Wong, Age 57
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PLAINTIFFS' OCCUPATIONS:
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Wing Wong: Retired
Tina Wong (deceased): Housewife
Albert Wong (deceased): Accountant
Angela Wong: Housewife |
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FACTS:
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Plaintiff Wing Wong was driving when the tires of the 4Runner went off the edge of the road. He corrected back, and the 4Runner rolled at highway speed. The rollover killed driver Wing Wong's wife, Tina (in the right rear seat), and passenger Angela Wong's husband, Albert (in the right front seat). Tina Wong's seat belt spooled out. She was ejected through the right rearmost window.
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PLAINTIFFS' ASSERTIONS:
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The Toyota 4Runner is an unstable vehicle with an unreasonably dangerous propensity to roll over. The occupant restraint system is defectively designed resulting in excessive spool-out during rollovers. |
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DEFENSE CLAIMS:
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Driver Wing Wong caused this accident by driving the vehicle off the road and then over-correcting back to the highway. The violence of the rollover resulted in the two fatalities. Decedent Tina Wong appears to have been lying down and was improperly belted.
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TRIAL COURT:
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Kern County Superior Court
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TRIAL DATE:
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March 20, 2000
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MEDIATION SERVICE:
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The Honorable Victor Barrera of ADR Services
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SETTLEMENT DATE:
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October 5, 1999 |
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AMOUNT OF SETTLEMENT:
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CONFIDENTIAL |
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| Verdict Summary Prepared by: | | Law Offices of Raymond Paul Johnson
10990 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1150
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 246-9300
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| Representing: | | Plaintiffs |
| Date: | | May 18, 2000 |
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