GRETNA – A Jefferson Parish woman is suing a local car dealership and a car manufacturer claiming she was injured when her vehicle’s airbag malfunctioned and exploded.
Sharen Ballina, and husband Brian, filed suit against Bergeron Motors Inc. and Chrysler Group LLC in the 24th Judicial District Court on April 10.
Ballina claims that on May 7, 2012 she was backing out of a parking spot in a 2003 Jeep Liberty she purchased from Bergeron Motors when the airbag malfunctioned and exploded. The plaintiff alleges she received severe and debilitating injuries in the incident.
Bergeron Motors Inc. is accused of selling a vehicle with a known defect and performing inadequate inspections of the vehicle.
Chrysler Group LLC is accused of manufacturing a vehicle with a defective airbag, failing to issue a recall for a known defect to the airbag and designing an unsafe vehicle.
Damages in excess of $50,000 are sought for physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering, loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, medical expenses and permanent injury.
Ballina is represented by Stephen P. Bruno of New Orleans-based Bruno & Bruno.
The case has been assigned to Division I Judge Nancy A. Miller.
Case no. 725-778.
Jeep Liberty maker, dealer sued by customer over air bag deployment
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