Volkswagen of America, Inc. v. Ramirez

This is a product liability case. A Volkswagen Passat driven by Haley Sperling crossed the median of U.S. Highway 83 and collided with a vehicle driven by Diana Alice Ramirez-Garza and occupied by her fourteen year old daughter, Jacquelyn Renee Guerra. Diana Alice Ramirez-Garza was killed in the collision and her daughter suffered severe injuries. Andrew Ramirez, Sr., Ester Ramirez, and Andrew Ramirez, Jr., as next friend of Jacquelyn Renee Guerra and as administrator of the estate of Diana Alice Ramirez-Garza, sued Volkswagen of America, Inc., alleging that the accident was caused by a defective wheel assembly on Sperling’s Passat.

The initial trial of this matter ended with a jury verdict in favor of Volkswagen; however, the trial court granted appellees a new trial “in the interest of justice.” Upon retrial, the jury found that the Volkswagen Passat involved in the collision was defective and Volkswagen’s negligence proximately caused the automobile accident resulting in appellees’ injuries. The trial court entered judgment on the verdict, awarding appellees $17,237,664.38. Volkswagen appeals this judgment by seven issues. We affirm.