$19-Million Award in Lawsuit Over Minivan Brakes

Jurors ordered Chrysler Corp. on Friday to pay $19.2 million to a man who blamed faulty brakes in his Plymouth Voyager minivan for a crash that killed his wife and three children.

Paul J. Santos Jr., a 52-year-old engineer, was awarded $12.8 million in compensatory damages plus $6.4 million in interest and about $15,000 in punitive damages--the cost of the 1986 minivan.

Chyrsler’s lawyer, Peter M. Durney, said the company may appeal.

Santos’ attorney Leo V. Boyle said the verdict was the first involving alleged problems with the minivans’ braking system.

Santos was driving the minivan on New Hampshire’s Franconia Notch Parkway when he braked to avoid rear-ending another car. Boyle said Santos’ rear brakes locked before the front brakes, sending the vehicle out of control.

Durney had argued that Santos’ windshield was dirty and that Santos had turned to avoid the car in front, steering into oncoming traffic.