Family Sues Ford Motor Company
Father and daughter die from crash, mother injured fourth family member is injured by survives
June 14, 2005
SAVANNAHA, GA. – PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL. – Susan Orkies her husband, Daniel, and two daughters Michelle and Sheana were traveling on 1-95 just north of Savannah, Georgia in Jasper County, South Carolina on April 19, 2003. Susan was driving the family’s 2001 Ford Explorer Sport 4x2. She and her husband were both seat belted in the front seats with Sheana and Michelle in the rear seats. Little did they realize that their world would change forever on this April day.
Another driver, Michael Johnson, driving his 2002 Nissan Sentra lost control of his car and over corrected, crossed the lane and struck the side of the Orkies Ford Explorer in the lane closest to the shoulder. Eyewitness reports and the police investigation concluded that after the minor impact, the Explorer could not regain control and rolled over coming to final rest on its roof.
Susan and Daniel Orkies were trapped inside the Ford Explorer. The two girls seated in the back seat were both ejected. Daughter Michelle, survived the crash, however Sheana suffered severe injuries and died at a local hospital three days after the crash. Daniel Orkies a husband and father to this family, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Edward Ricci and Theodore Leopold, attorneys with the Palm Beach Gardens, FL based law firm of Ricci-Leopold represents the Orkies family in their action against Ford Motor Company. “Ironically, the Ford Explorer was designed to replace the company’s model the Bronco II. Originally, the Explorer was call the ‘four door Bronco II. The Bronco II now the Ford Explorer has been judicially determined to be defective and unreasonably dangerous,” said Mr. Ricci. “However, Ford even with this knowledge and judgment against the company has continued to distribute the Explorer. At highway speeds the Explorer is prone to roll over, and when this occurs the Explorer roof collapses and those inside are trapped and either severely injured or killed.
“Young Sheana Orkies a student at Crystal River High School had her entire life in front of her. David Orkies leaves behind a wife and daughter. A loving, successful family torn apart because of a company’s position to put profits over people,” shared Mr. Leopold.
It was discovered that Ford Motor Company had the duty to design, develop, manufacture, market, assemble, test, sell and distribute a safe vehicle. However, the Explorer was designed and manufactured with inadequate rollover resistance, a defective roof as well as an inferior seat system, which includes the seatback, seatbelt, and retractor mechanism. “The company negligently designed a number of things on this vehicle. Perhaps first and foremost are that even today the Explorer has inadequate rollover resistance and a roof that collapses like a cardboard box. We have seen countless incidences of this Ford model in rollover crashes and the outcomes are very sad. Beyond that, the vehicle’s seat, and seat belt restraint system proved defective in preventing injury or saving lives. Ford does not warn buyers, nor has it recalled the vehicle despite knowing of the vehicles defects, Leopold concluded.
The action filed in Marion County circuit court does not mention specific damages.
Edward Ricci and Theodore Leopold are attorneys 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. Mr. Ricci can be contacted at 561-684-6500.
