Robert M.N. Palmer and William Petrus, The Law Offices of Robert M.N. Palmer, P.C., and Ronald P. Pope, Ralston, Pope & Diehl, L.L.C., attorneys for plaintiffs; and Robert T. Adams and Douglas W. Robinson, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P., attorney for defendant Ford Motor Company; John L. Andra, Morris Laing, Evans, Brock & Kennedy, attorney for defendant Hartenberger and Harry M. Bleeker, Watkins, Calcara, Rondeau, attorney for Grandville Bush, Administrator of Estate of Defendant Morsbach.

On December 31, 1999, at 2:10 p.m., Dori Ann Mead was the right front seat passenger in a 1992 Ford Tempo driven by defendant Robert Hartenberger that was headed west on U-56 in Barton County, Kansas. A 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by defendant Eugene Morsbach heading in the opposite direction crossed the center line, entered the westbound lane and collided head on into the 1992 Ford Tempo. Ms. Mead was fully using the passive restraint system including the shoulder belt in the Tempo, but was not wearing the manual lap belt. As a result of the accident, Ms. Mead was rendered a ventilator dependant quadriplegic. Ms. Mead was so severely injured that she was only able to move one eye, which she used to communicate with her family and doctors. Ms. Mead died as a result of complications from her injuries on October 21, 2001.
 

Plaintiffs alleged that the passive restraint system (i.e. automatic shoulder belt and knee bolster) did not provide adequate pelvic restraint which allowed Ms. Mead to submarine under the shoulder belt and thereby produced her catastrophic neck injuries. Plaintiffs also contended that Ford failed to provide adequate warnings to occupants that the passive belt system was inadequate and not safe when used by itself. Plaintiffs also argued that the placards on the front and back of both sun visors did not comply with Ford’s worldwide standards and the applicable ANSI standard. Plaintiffs were also prepared to offer an alternative chime or buzzer system that would cycle for longer periods of time than the standard 4 to 8 seconds used by Ford.
 

Medical expenses $2,287,155.81.

Case settled for a confidential amount on April 9, 2002.