A Hayward, Calif., jury returned a multimillion dollar verdict Tuesday against Ford Motor Co. and a Bay Area Ford dealer in a case arising from a 1996 car accident that rendered Fremont, Calif., resident Richard Raimondi a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic.
The jury deliberated for 2 1/2 days in the case, which hinged on whether a defect in Raimondi’s 1988 Bronco II or his driving was to blame for the accident. Jurors concluded that Ford was 50 percent at fault and awarded him $19 million. Raimondi was also awarded $13 million compensatory damages.
