Robert M.N. Palmer and William Petrus, The Law Offices of Robert M.N. Palmer, P.C., and Erwin L. Milne, Andereck, Evans, Milne, Peace & Johnson, L.L.C., for plaintiffs and Robert T. Adams and Douglas W. Robinson, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P. for defendant.

On or about December 16, 1995, Plaintiff Angelia Beanland was a right front seat passenger in a 1995 Mercury Tracer operated by Donna Woods. Plaintiffs’ one-year-old daughter, Brooklyn Beanland, was rear seat passenger restrained in a child car seat. Angelia Beanland was wearing the available passive shoulder belt and manual lap belt. Donna Woods lost control of the Tracer while traveling on Rout Y in Miller County, Missouri, and left the roadway. The tracer sustained a frontal collision with a slight embankment that deployed the air bags and caused the Tracer to go airborne for approximately 40 feet. Ms. Beanland moved toward the front of the seat cushion and, when the Tracer landed on its tires, sustained a L1 burst fracture with neurological impairment. She remained ambulatory and able to work but lost sensation in the area of her perineum and suffered a diminution of bowl and bladder control. Donna Wood suffered minor injuries to her chin and throat. Brooklyn Beanland did not suffer any injuries.
As a result of the design of the front passenger seat bottom and the seat belt restraints, plaintiff Angelia Beanland’s injuries were enhanced and increased above that which she would have been expected to receive in this collision with a non-defective front passenger seat. The design of the manual lap belt permitted her to move forward and be on top of the anti-submarining bar in the seat bottom transmitting the collision forces through her spinal column.

Medical Expenses were approximately $105,000 and the

Life Care Plan calculated at $1,076,383.
 

Settled for a confidential amount on February 11, 2002.