Opinion ID: 1057790
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cause and Origin of the Funkhouser Fire

Text: According to Funkhouser’s designated expert, Michael J. Schulz (“Schulz”), the origin of the fire in Funkhouser’s vehicle “was located within the vehicle’s instrument panel area with the key in an off position” and “[a]lthough there are multiple options within the instrument panel and surrounding area that could explain the electrical fire, the most likely origin point of the fire was in the lower portion of the panel in the vicinity of the wiring harness, cigarette lighter and the 2 controls for the heating and AC system.” Schulz went on to explain that the fire was caused by heat energy generated by abnormal and undesired electrical activity within the lower portion of the center instrument panel in the vicinity of the wiring harness, cigarette lighter and the controls for the vehicle's heating and air conditioning system. Further, the source of ignition was likely electrical activity emanating from one of the wires or connector in this vicinity. Relying on documents produced by Ford during the pendency of Funkhouser’s first action, 2 Schulz opined that Ford possessed information that should have placed a reasonably prudent final-end manufacturer on notice that Ford’s Windstar minivans manufactured between 1999 and 2003 were or were likely to be dangerous for the use for which they were sold because Ford knew or should have known that the electrical components in the instrument panel area of these vans had the potential to fail and result in a fire with the key in an “off” position.