Ford Ordered to Pay Damages in Bronco...

Ford Ordered to Pay Damages in Bronco II Case: A jury ordered Ford Motor Co. to pay $2.5 million in damages in the death of a college student killed when a Bronco II overturned, marking the first time a jury has found the vehicle defective. The Houston jury found late Wednesday that Ford’s negligence in designing the compact Bronco II made the truck unreasonably dangerous.

On Thursday, the jury asked for $22.5 million in punitive damages, but later withdrew the request after finding that Ford did not act with malice in developing and marketing the vehicle. Under Texas law, without a malice finding, punitive damages are capped at four times actual damages. The verdict deals a major blow to Ford’s efforts to defend the controversial sport-utility vehicle, which critics charge is prone to rolling over in emergency maneuvers.