Takes A Death To Show That Chrysler Concorde
Rear Seat Has Faulty Design and is Unsafe
On Sunday, December 9, 2001, John Regaled was driving his 2000 Chrysler, Concorde, LXI 4-door car. He had two passengers in the vehicle - Sandra Bohem, seated in the right front passenger seat and Ludy Ragaldo Galiani seated in the right rear passenger seat. All occupants of the vehicle were using their restraint belts.
Mr. Regaled's vehicle was traveling east bound on State Road 90 (US 41) approximately eight miles east of Everglades City in Lee County, Florida. It had rained earlier and the roadway was very wet. Traveling westbound on State Road 90 was a 2000 Toyota Tundra truck, driven by Frank Iannuzzi, Jr. While traveling on U.S. 90 Mr. Iannuzzi attempted to slow his truck but upon doing so his truck began to hydroplane and swerve left, crossing the center line and entering into the path of the Chrysler Concorde. As a result of the collision Ludy Galiana suffered fatal injuries and was killed.
What killed Mrs. Galiana was luggage that came through the trunk and hit the rear seatback of Mrs. Galiana's seat. This impact caused excessive force to be placed on Mrs. Galiana and killed her. "The company negligently designed the rear seat and truck systems," said Edward Ricci, attorney and partner in the Palm Beach Gardens law firm of Ricci~Leopold. "Chrysler designed a rear seat and trunk that would not provide adequate strength or distribution of forces during loading from the rear. Chrysler's disregard for safety and human life is appalling," Ricci added.
The action filed in circuit court does not mention specific damages. "This is a continuing cause of great concern for consumers and me personally," added Ted Leopold, an attorney and partner in Ricci~Leopold. "There are countless individuals driving in vehicles at this moment who are sitting in rear seats that will not protect them in foreseeable accidents. These seats are simply unsafe and life threatening. We are steadfast that we want consumers to be aware of the risk, danger and potential for fatal injury in seats being produced in cars today," Leopold concluded.
Edward M. Ricci and Theodore J. Leopold are a partners in the law firm of Ricci~Leopold, P.A. The firm founded in 1982, has five attorneys and is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with offices located at 2925 PGA Blvd. Ed Ricci and Ted Leopold can be contacted at 561-684-6500. Additional information about Ricci~Leopold, P.A. may be obtained from the firm's website at www.riccilaw.com.
