MARSHALL-The family of a deceased Texas woman has filed a lawsuit against Honda claiming the vehicle's seats and seatbelts failed to protect her.
Molly Katherine Stanley died on April 18 was driving a 2005 Honda Civic eastbound on FM 16 in Smith County. According to court records, Stanley lost control of her vehicle while driving on a rain slick pavement. Her vehicle left the pavement and hit several trees. Although Stanley was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, she suffered fatal injuries when her seat collapsed and she was ejected into the rear seat area.
Stanley's parents, Kerry and Retha Stanley filed suit against Honda Motor Co., Ltd. on Aug. 25 in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. Stanley also had a child, K.M.S., who is represented as a plaintiff by her father Jason Swanson.
The lawsuit argues the vehicle was unreasonably dangerous and defective due to the seat collapsing and ejecting the restrained occupant into the rear seat area, violated principles of crashworthiness by failing to provide adequate restraint and failed to prevent ejection, the collapsing seat exposed the driver to the risk, hazard and danger of ejection and failing to conduct testing to adequate testing and proper engineering analysis.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of care, maintenance, support, services, advice, counsel, reasonable contributions of a pecuniary value, loss of companionship and society, loss of consortium, mental anguish, loss of inheritance, funeral and burial expenses, loss of enjoyment of life, total loss of earning capacity, interest and costs of suit.
The plaintiffs are represented by E. Todd Tracy and I. Scott Lidji of The Tracy Firm in Dallas.
U.S. District Judge T. John Ward is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:10cv00318