$7.5 Million Awarded in Seat Belt Suit

A jury has ordered Toyota Motor Corp. to pay $7.5 million because a driver wearing a safety belt went through the windshield when his light truck hit a tree.

Toyota spokeswoman Mindy Geller said that the company was shocked at the amount of the naaward and would appeal.

The jury awarded $6 million to Cliff Sadlier, who was partially crippled in the accident, and $1.5 million to his wife, Joanne.

The Sadliers claimed that the seat belt failed when the Toyota 4Runner struck a tree on Feb. 9, 1988. Sadlier, who was driving alone, said he was going 25 m.p.h.; a Toyota expert testified that his speed was 40 m.p.h.

Sadlier, of suburban Bloomfield Hills, said that although he was wearing his seat belt, his head went through the windshield and his body hit the dashboard. He said he now must rely on a wheelchair, although he can walk short distances with crutches and braces.

Sadlier’s attorneys charged that the Toyota seat belt lacked a device to take up slack. Toyota’s lawyers said that the seat belt met federal specifications.