Grimshaw, a 13-year-old girl, was a passenger in a Ford Pinto driven by a neighbor. The Pinto stalled and, while motionless, was hit from behind by another car. Moments later, the Pinto’s fuel tank exploded, with the result that the driver was killed and Grimshaw was burned over 90 percent of her body.

Grimshaw’s family sued Ford Motor Company, claiming that Ford was negligent in designing the Pinto so that the fuel tank was in a dangerous position, with

“conscious disregard of public safety.” The jury awarded the family of the driver

$666,000 and Grimshaw $2,841,000 as compensation for her injuries. In addition, the jury awarded Grimshaw another $125,000,000 as punitive damages (that is, to punish Ford). Ford appealed the decision. Will the decision of the jury be upheld?

[ Grimshaw et al. v. Ford Motor Company , 119 Cal. App. 3d 757, 1981 Cal. App.

LEXIS 1859, 174 Cal. Rptr. 348 (California).]