Texas Jury Finds GM Liable in Air Bag Suit

A Texas jury has found General Motors Corp. liable for $18.7 million for the permanent brain damage suffered by a woman when a side-impact air bag failed to deploy in a January 2003 accident.

Stacey Burry, then 39, was injured when the passenger side of the 2001 Chevrolet Suburban in which she was riding was hit by a tractor-trailer going 40 mph, said her attorney, Lee Brown. On Feb. 18, a jury in Decatur, Texas, awarded a total of $38.2 million, finding GM 49% responsible for Burry’s injuries and the driver of the Suburban 51% responsible.