Ford Settles Laminated Glass Lawsuit in Texas

In the middle of a trial in the 58th District Court, Ford Motor Co. settled a lawsuit brought by a Beaumont, Tex., couple who were alleging that the vehicle manufacturer was liable because it had not installed laminated glass in side windows even though it knew laminated would be safer than tempered glass.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Charles and Vanessa Jackson had alleged that Ford was negligent in not equipping the 2002 Explorer in which their son Jeffrey died of injuries sustained in October 2004 when a car hit the SUV from behind, sending it out of control. Jackson, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle, which rolled over three times.

According to local press reports, the Jackson's lawyers cited reports by Ford engineers that laminated glass was safer than tempered glass. Ford's lawyers cited evidence suggesting it would not have made any difference whether the glass was laminated or tempered because the force of the vehicle's trajectory would have ejected the occupant either way.