Center for Auto Safety Statement on $150 Million Walden Jeep Fire Judgement
April, 2015
Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:“CAS STATEMENT ON $150 MILLION WALDEN JEEP FIRE JUDGMENT The $150 million verdict in Walden vs Chrysler rebukes the deal cut by former DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, former NHTSA Administrator David Strickland and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne in a secret meeting in Chicago to conduct a sham recall using a fake trailer hitch that can’t even tow. Strickland, who arranged the deadly meeting in a series of 23 emails that excluded NHTSA professional staff from participating, is now a lawyer with a law firm that represents Chrysler and failed to recuse himself from the Jeep investigation even though he planned to join the law firm. CAS Executive Director Clarence Ditlow said: “The $150 million verdict will not bring back 4 year old Remi Walden who burned to death in a child booster seat or any of the other victims in the 395 fatal fire crashes of the 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 19932001 Jeep Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty covered by NHTSA’s now closed investigation. The Center for Auto Safety calls on new NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind and DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx to reopen the Jeep Fuel Tank investigation closed under the influence of a former NHTSA Administrator headed for a law firm representing Chrysler in a secret meeting without the participation of NHTSA professional staff.”
More information see:http://www.autosafety.org/walden-v-chrysler-trialhttp://www.autosafety.org/jeep-grand-cherokee-fires-homepage
