Judges say accident victims can sue Ford in state court

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Ford Motor Co. can be sued in state courts by people killed or seriously injured in crashes involving Ford vehicles.

The justices unanimously rejected the Michigan-based company’s argument that its ties to Minnesota and Montana were too tenuous for it to be sued by accident victims in those states.

The ruling could make it easier to bring lawsuits in state courts against other automakers and companies that operate nationwide.

Ford argued that the company should not face civil lawsuits in either state because the cars were originally sold elsewhere and then resold as used cars to people in Minnesota and Montana.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote in the court’s majority opinion that “the connection between plaintiffs’ claims and Ford’s activities in these states … is close enough” to allow the suits to proceed.

“By every means possible – including billboards, television and radio spots, print ads and direct mail – Ford is urging residents of Montana and Minnesota to purchase its vehicles,” Kagan wrote. “Ford cars…are for sale, whether new” or used statewide at 36 dealerships in Montana and 84 in Minnesota. And beyond sales, Ford works hard to foster an ongoing connection with the owners of its cars.”

Both accidents occurred in 2015. In one, Markkaya Gullett was killed when the tread on a rear tire of the 1996 Ford Explorer she was driving in Montana came off. “The vehicle spun, rolled into a ditch and came to a stop upside down. Gullett died at the scene,” Kagan wrote. Gullett was married and had two children.

The other accident, in Minnesota, resulted in serious brain injuries to Adam Bandemer, who was a passenger in his friend’s Crown Victoria in 1994 when it crashed into a snowplow on the way to an ice fishing spot. Bandemer’s airbag did not deploy, Kagan wrote.

Ford, based in Dearborn, Michigan, tried to dismiss the lawsuits, and when the Montana and Minnesota Supreme Courts ruled against it, the company appealed to the Supreme Court.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett did not participate in the case because the case was already heard in early October before she joined the court.