Opinion ID: 2529268
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Failure to Inform About Postsale Remedial Measures

Text: ¶ 43 Plaintiffs also introduced evidence at trial, over Ford's repeated objection, regarding Ford's failure to inform the Jablonskis of certain postsale remedial measures taken in 2002. Plaintiffs' theory was that because Ford became aware of certain problems and voluntarily undertook certain measures with respect to the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, it should have also informed its civilian customers about those measures. Subsequent to the sale of the Town Car, but prior to the Jablonski accident, law enforcement agencies became aware of high-speed rear-end collisions in which police officers were injured or killed in postcrash fires in Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. As a result of these incidents, police agencies complained to Ford and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). ¶ 44 In October 2001, the NHTSA opened an investigation into postcrash fires in Ford's Panther platform vehicles. After completing its investigation in 2002, the NHTSA found that Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, compared to civilian Panther platform vehicles, have a much greater exposure to high-energy rear impacts due to the nature of their use as blocker vehicles at crash scenes or during routine traffic stops along high-speed public roads. The NHTSA required no action by Ford nor did it prohibit the aft-of-axle fuel tank design. ¶ 45 When asked to comment on the NHTSA's findings, Arndt agreed that it would not be a good idea to dictate a fuel tank location because you can    make a bad fuel tank in a good location    and I suppose    you could probably make a good fuel tank in any location. The NHTSA additionally found that the structural and component design is a more critical factor than fuel tank location in maintaining fuel system integrity. Arndt agreed with this statement in part, but continued to identify fuel tank location as an important consideration. ¶ 46 During 2002, government officials in various jurisdictions had opened investigations as a result of police officer deaths. In June of 2002, Ford announced the formation of a Crown Victoria Police Interceptor Blue Ribbon Panel. This panel consisted of Ford and law enforcement representatives committing to a 90-day program to evaluate fuel system upgrades and police procedures as a part of a Police Officer Safety Action Plan. In September of 2002, the Blue Ribbon Panel announced certain remedial measures, including the creation of an Upgrade Kit, which consisted of shields designed to protect the fuel tank from puncture by component parts in high-speed rear-end collisions. All experts agreed that the Upgrade Kit would not have prevented the Jablonski accident. ¶ 47 The panel also announced the creation of a Trunk Pack, for the Police Interceptor consisting of a drop-in trunk liner made of high-density polyethylene, which ensures the user places objects in the trunk laterally rather than longitudinally. Arndt acknowledged that the Trunk Pack was designed for the Police Interceptor and he was not recommending that particular design for civilian use or in the Lincoln Town Car. A sticker located on the Trunk Pack instructed the user to align hard or sharp police equipment laterally. ¶ 48 The panel also announced recommendations for police safety procedures, including Trunk Packing Considerations for Police Vehicles. These Trunk Packing Considerations advised officers on items not to carry in the trunk and advised them regarding the placement of other items in the trunk to reduce the potential for fuel tank rupture by trunk contents. Finally, Ford announced the development of a website where the law enforcement community and the general public could find information about the upgrades to the Police Interceptor. ¶ 49 In October of 2002, Ford informed by mail all the registered owners of Police Interceptors and all the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury dealers in the United States about the availability of the upgrade kit. In March of 2003, Ford also notified its 32,000 governmental fleet customers regarding the upgrade kit. In May 2003, the police and Police Interceptor customers were notified by mail that the Trunk Pack could be ordered through a Ford dealer. According to the website, a direct mailing to fleet customers informing them of the availability of the Trunk Pack was to take place in June 2003, and shipments of the product to dealers were to begin on June 16, 2003, about three weeks before the Jablonski accident. The Trunk Packing Considerations were available only through the website and with the purchase of the Interceptor Trunk Pack. Civilian owners of Panther platform vehicles, including the Jablonskis, received no notice of the availability of the Trunk Pack or the Trunk Packing Considerations. ¶ 50 Sue Cischke, a vice president of Ford and the highest ranking Ford employee responsible for vehicle safety, made the decision not to notify civilian users of these measures because it was Ford's opinion that the risk of fuel-fed, postcrash fires in high-speed rear-impact collisions is unique to police users because police officers have significantly greater exposure in severe highway collisions. However, with respect to the Trunk Packing Considerations, she admitted at trial that of the articles Ford warned police that carrying in the trunk was not recommended, some could potentially be present in civilian cars.