General Motors Corporation and Cavender Boerne Acquisition of Texas, Ltd.

I. ACCIDENT FACTS:
This accident occurred on May 19, 2003 in Kendall County just outside San Antonio. At that time, Landon Groff was returning from final exams at Texas Tech. As he traveled on Interstate 10, he fell asleep and traveled off the roadway in his 1999 Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab pickup truck. He tried to regain control of the vehicle but was unable to do so and it rolled 2-3 times coming to rest in an upright position. Mr. Groff was properly belted at the time of the accident. Unfortunately, due to the roof of his vehicle collapsing in the area of his seat, he suffered a compression fracture to his spine. This injury rendered him quadriplegic.

II. LIABILITY:
Plaintiffs alleged that the roof was defective and unreasonably dangerous and that this product defect caused the injury to Mr. Groff. In particular, Plaintiffs alleged the following:

• The vehicle was designed to a weak standard that did not replicate real world accident forces;
• Internal testing on the vehicle revealed that the roof did not even meet this weak standard;
• The vehicle was not tested properly since only one side of the roof was tested;
• The roof strength relied heavily on the glass of the vehicle which shattered during the accident and did not provide any support thereafter in the roll sequence;
• A safer alternative design would include the use of foam filled pillars, stronger structure, or an integrated roll cage

III. DAMAGES:
As a result of the roof of his vehicle collapsing in the area of his seat, he suffered a compression fracture to his spine that rendered him quadriplegic. He was in the hospital for 2 months. His past medical expenses exceeded $300,000 and he had a multi-million dollar life care plan.

IV. VEHICLE:
1999 Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab pickup truck

V.CASE DISPOSITION:
Case settled for a confidential sum.

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