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Ford hit with $295M verdict
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July 13, 1999: 12:16 p.m. ET
California jury rules on 1993 crash deaths 3 days after $4.9B GM verdict
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - A California jury ordered Ford Motor Co. to pay $295 million to the family of a couple and their son who died when the Ford Bronco they were riding in rolled over in 1993.
The ruling by a Stanislaus County Superior Court jury, in Modesto, Calif., Monday comes three days after a Los Angeles jury ruled General Motors Corp. must pay $4.9 billion to six people who were burned following a collision with their Chevrolet.
Representatives from both sides said the award was among the largest in a personal injury lawsuit. Ford (F) said it would appeal.
In the suit, Juan Romo and two surviving sisters argued the company knew the Bronco's detachable roof would not withstand a rollover.
Ford, which insisted the 1978 Bronco's fiberglass roof was safe, said it will ask for a new trial and request the award be set aside.
Romo was driving the Bronco on Interstate 5 in 1993 when he swerved to avoid another motorist and struck a curb, sending the truck into 2-1/2 rolls and skidding 150 feet. The accident killed Romo's parents Ramon, 39, and Salustia, 40, and his brother Ramiro, 18.
The jury ordered Ford to pay the three surviving Romos -- Juan, 14-year-old Maria and 18-year-old Evangelina -- $5 million in punitive damages and $290 million in compensatory damages.
"Rather than spend a few dollars, Ford found it more profitable to defend lawsuits -- and if all else failed, to pay the verdict," said Laurence Drivon, an attorney representing the Romo daughters.
A Ford spokesman said the verdict was unfair.
"This is an absolutely astonishing and criminal award," said Jim Cain, a Ford spokesman. "It is outrageous for the reason that there is absolutely no defect in the roof design or handling."
"I don't care if you're riding with angels -- if you roll at 50 miles an hour, you're going to have problems," Cain added.
Shares of Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford fell 1-15/16 to 53-13/16 in Tuesday afternoon trading. 
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Ford Motor Co.
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