Court tosses $43M award against Ford in fiery crash case

• Reprints

Updated: November 3, 2011 3:46PM

ST. LOUIS — The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed a jury’s $43 million award against Ford Motor Co. for a fiery crash near Granite City that killed a man and disfigured his wife.

John and Dora Jablonski in July 2003 were headed home to Florissant, Mo., when they were hit from behind. A pipe wrench in the Joblonskis’ car trunk pierced the gas tank of their 1993 Lincoln Town Car.

Attorney Brad Lakin contended the design of the car, with its fuel tank behind the rear axle, caused the fire. He said Ford should have warned owners or retrofitted the vehicles with safety devices.

The Supreme Court ruled Illinois law doesn’t require a company to warn of defects not detected before the product left the manufacturer.

Lakin couldn’t be reached for comment.

Ford said it is “pleased” with the court’s ruling. In a statement Thursday, the company contended the 2003 wreck was the fault of a distracted motorist who rear-ended the car in a construction zone.

Ford said the high court “recognized and corrected the substantial errors and deficiencies in the earlier proceedings.”