A 51-year-old Vermont woman has been awarded a $43.1 million jury verdict against the manufacturer of a car seat that allegedly collapsed during a 2007 car accident, leaving her a paraplegic.
The award is believed to be the largest civil verdict in state court in Vermont history.
Dzemila Heco of Essex Junction was injured on Aug. 4, 2007, when the car she was driving was rear-ended.
Heco’s lawyers argued the car seat back collapsed, causing severe spinal-cord injuries. Heco was wearing a seat belt.
The jury returned the judgment last Friday against Johnson Controls, Inc., of Milwaukee after a two-week trial.
The Burlington Free Press reports Johnson Controls disagreed with the verdict. The company says the seat exceeded all government and industry standards. The company is considering an appeal.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Experian: AI Agents Could Overtake Human Error as Major Cause of Data Breaches 
10 Highest Class-Action Settlements in 2025 Eclipsed $70B Total: Duane Morris 
Expense Ratio Analysis: AI, Remote Work Drive Better P/C Insurer Results 
Nearly Half of 100 Largest P/C Insurers Destroy Value: ACORD 
