There are cases that most people know no matter the generation, Roe V. Wade, People V. O.J. Simpson but other big cases are not as well known like Grimshaw V. Ford Motor Company. In 1981 1972 Ford Pinto stalled on a California highway, causing it to be rear ended which lead to fuel tank fire killing the driver Lily Gray and severely injuring the passenger Richard Grimshaw. The Ford Pinto did not pass the crash tests set by the federal government that required impacts “without significant fuel spillage,” up to 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) impacts by 1972 and 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) by 1973. Due to Ford’s failure to correct these car defects multiple people were injured some even killed. In the Grimshaw v Ford Motor Co. lawsuit, the jury awarded $127.8 million in damages which was reduced by the judge later on. Grimshaw was awarded $2,841,000 and $665,000 was awarded to the family of Gray. This case, until Hardy v. General Motors, had the largest jury award against an automaker. This case showed the auto industry that they would be severely punished if they ignored car defects.
