DONALDSONVILLE – A national auto insurance company is suing an automobile manufacturer for an alleged product defect.
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company filed suit on April 2 against Ford Motor Company in the 23rd Judicial District Court.
The plaintiff claims a 1996 Crown Victoria owned by their customer Stewart Hawley caught fire which spread to his home and caused significant damage. The plaintiff alleges a malfunctioning cruise control switch is the source of the initial fire. The defendants are accused of providing a defective product, designing an unreasonably dangerous product, giving inadequate warning about the defective part and failing to warn about the dangers of the product.
Damages in the amount of $181,618.09 are sought for an insurance claim paid to Hawley.
State Farm is being represented by W. Ransom Pipes of Hannah, Colvin and Pipes LLP.
The case has been assigned to Division B Judge Thomas Kliebert, Jr.
Case number 103314