Pasadena jury awards woman $24.7 million

A Pasadena jury on Thursday awarded $24.7 million to Los Angeles woman who became a paraplegic after her car seat collapsed during a rear-end collision in 2006. The jury found the car seat was defective.

It took about two and a half days for the jury to come back with the verdict for Jaklin Romine, 26, who was permanently injured in the crash at Corson Street and Lake Avenue in Pasadena.

“I didn’t get emotional or cry when I heard the verdict,” Romine said. “I was just surprised. I never imagined the amount would be so much.”

The jury ordered Johnson Controls, the car seat manufacturer, to pay Romine for her injuries.

Paul Mason, a spokesman for Johnson Controls, said his client would appeal the verdict.

Romine’s attorney, Brian Chase, said he hoped the verdict “will force auto manufacturers and Johnson Controls to stop putting profit over people, and start manufacturing safe non-defective seats to protect consumers.”