The drunk driver, traveling at least 50 miles an hour, hit the Malibu, which was slowing for a stoplight, as the group was returning home from Christmas Eve church services.
Judges can and do reduce what they consider to be excessive damage awards.
This just shows that the new figures of billions of dollars that have begun to be tossed around in the tobacco cases have changed the perspective of the American jurors. With the gas tank design changes, Panish said, at worst there might have been a few broken bones. GM immediately said it would appeal the verdict. Rhadigan said the Malibu met all the federal safety standards at the time it was manufactured. The company also said the car's speed at the time of the crash was 70 miles per hour.