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Lieff Cabraser's Trials Across America -
Mraz v. DaimlerChrysler

In March 2007, Lieff Cabraser partners Robert J. Nelson and Scott P. Nealey served as lead trial counsel in a five week trial and obtained a $55.2 million verdict for the family of a young father killed due to the park-to-reverse defect with a 1991 Dodge Dakota pickup truck ($5.2 million in compensatory damages and 50 million in punitive damages). Lieff Cabraser has handled and settled numerous park-to-reverse injury cases in the last five years, yet the Mraz case was the first trial regarding this defect in a number of years. A "park to reverse" defect is found in vehicles in which it is possible for drivers to place the vehicle's automatic transmission shift selector into a position between park and reverse during normal vehicle operations. This shift position is also referred to as "false park" or "illusory park."
False park is a very dangerous defect because it appears to the driver that the vehicle is fully in park--the vehicle idles as it does in neutral and feels and sounds as it would in park--and the driver may exit the vehicle with the engine running (e.g., to load the car, get the mail, etc.) where upon the vehicle can self shift into powered reverse, runing over the driver or a bystander.
When a vehicle is in false park, the transmission is neither in park nor in hydraulic reverse, but instead it is in an unstable position between the two gears. Slight movements can cause the vehicle to self-shift into reverse. When the vehicle is running, this will cause the vehicle to move backwards unexpectedly under power.
About Lieff Cabraser
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is dedicated to advancing the rights of our clients, bringing their claims to trial when necessary to achieve justice. We represent our clients in federal and state courts throughout the country.
Since 2003, the National Law Journal has selected Lieff Cabraser as one of the top plaintiffs' law firms in the United States, recognizing our verdicts and settlements in addition to overall track records.
Contact Lieff Cabraser
Lieff Cabraser is among the largest law firms in the United States that represents only plaintiffs. We represent plaintiffs in class action lawsuits and in individual lawsuits involving serious personal injuries. To contact a Lieff Cabraser attorney concerning your case, please click here.
Please note: Lieff Cabraser does not offer any guarantee of case results. Please read our disclaimer.
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LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN, LLP
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Notice: Lieff Cabraser attorneys provide legal advice and practice law for clients in federal district courts throughout the United States and in state courts where we are licensed to practice. In states in which our lawyers are not licensed to practice, we have affiliations with local attorneys who serve as co-counsel with our firm. Please read our disclaimer.
Copyright © 2008 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP