A judge ordered a new trial Monday for a woman who sued General Motors after she was seriously injured in a crash while wearing a lap belt.
Robert Eglet, a prominent Las Vegas attorney, asked a jury in November to award $64.8 million to his client, Allie Mead.
Instead, jurors returned a verdict in favor of General Motors and found that the lap-only seat belt Mead wore was not unreasonably dangerous and defective.
Mead’s attorneys challenged the verdict and asked for a new trial. They argued that General Motors committed misconduct during the trial.
Eglet alleged that Michael Cooney, a lawyer for the car manufacturer, repeatedly cited out-of-state cases and laws that ignored prior rulings and presented a prohibited argument.
Mead was riding in a 1998 Chevrolet truck around 1:50 a.m. on Aug. 18, 2018, when the vehicle collided with a tree and a boulder, her 2020 lawsuit said.
She suffered a spinal fracture, ruptured colon and abdominal trauma, according to a news release.
She lives with unceasing pain, Eglet has said, and will require more spine surgeries in the future, as well as other operations. He said she has also been diagnosed with PTSD and major depressive disorder.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Noble Brigham at nbrigham@reviewjournal.com.
