[Bob Lincoln]

"had started the car and removed his feet from the clutch"
"Hawkins, who was performing an oil change at the time, was ran over"

Holy crap, how ignorant and unqualified do you have to be to be in the news business? My daughter could have written this correctly at age 6. I would take points off in a performance review and consider replacing someone whose grammar is this bad.
And the first phrase shows that the authors are as ignorant as the mechanic about how to operate a clutch.

 

[Dave Z]

This is not a national story pushed down from above.

Bias on certain issues has been pushed by Sinclair to the local level... if you want to get promoted, you get a good narrative.

But that's not the issue we should be tlaking about.

 

[Dave Z]

"had started the car and removed his feet from the clutch"
"Hawkins, who was performing an oil change at the time, was ran over"

Holy crap, how ignorant and unqualified do you have to be to be in the news business? My daughter could have written this correctly at age 6. I would take points off in a performance review and consider replacing someone whose grammar is this bad.
And the first phrase shows that the authors are as ignorant as the mechanic about how to operate a clutch.

Yup. And, again, the only legal opinion he sought was from the guy suing.

 

[Dave Z]

Ah. Here are the key bullets.

• However, a lawyer for the Hawkins family noted that the Jeep owner, who has not been publicly named, will be defended and indemnified by the dealership
• Rochester Hills Chrysler's insurance, which will ultimately have to foot the monetary damages and legal fees

 

[Fast Eddie]

This dealership is only a couple miles from the Chrysler Tech Center. When I was working I would leave my vehicle here for an oil change in the morning and then take the shuttle to work and then take the shuttle back in the evening after work to get my van. I have bought a couple of vehicles here too. Never had a problem.

 

[Dave Z]

It is never good when you have to rely on a sensationalist tabloid for the real story.

 

[Cleffy]

So weird Michigan law that requires a workaround. Basically, his vehicle is insured by the dealership since the dealership had the vehicle in their possession.

 

[Dave Z]

So weird Michigan law that requires a workaround. Basically, his vehicle is insured by the dealership since the dealership had the vehicle in their possession.

Historically, not so weird - it was part of the New Deal deal. Businesses did not want workers' compensation laws. They were sold the worker's comp with the idea that they couldn't be sued for worker' comp issues. I don't know if it's unusual that you can't even sue for negligence. Probably it is normal. It's like the way social security goes to very very rich people who certainly don't need it. "See, you get something too." All part of the democratic process.

What's interesting is that the dealership is indemnifying the customer completely. I wonder how that happened. Sometimes legal workarounds get very talmudic - "Let's figure out a bypass to our otherwise-bad laws."

I am pretty impressed with the Daily Mail's coverage.

 

[AceHanlon]

Nice thing about the Daily Mail is that they put almost the whole story right in the headline lol

 

[Dave Z]

Nice thing about the Daily Mail is that they put almost the whole story right in the headline lol

But then the rest of the story is scattered among oversized photos... I'm really surprised since there are so many ways they could have totally screwed this up instead of fixing it.

 

[Los_Control]

When you hand your car over to anybody including the valet or the person at the service desk at your local dealership, you better be able to trust that person," the attorney said.

When I read this statement from the lawyer, thats when I got the cringe feeling in my stomach.

I get it, they are a lawyer trying to pay off a student loan ... seriously these people .... looking for the big case to further their career. This lawyer is not a lawyer I would want to use.

We do have people just like this in all walks of life, we need to keep our guard up and protect ourselves from them.

 

[AceHanlon]

But then the rest of the story is scattered among oversized photos... I'm really surprised since there are so many ways they could have totally screwed this up instead of fixing it.

Yes the oversized pictures are annoying.

 

[AllanC]

. . . .

Car owner who left Jeep at dealership gets sued after worker dies during oil change

FOX 2: "You're suing the owner of the car who's getting his oil changed who did nothing in this case?" "I have to do that," Femminineo said.

www.fox2detroit.com

. . . .

I can see some fallout from this litigation that could affect auto manufacturers in the future. To make starting the vehicle engine "stupid proof" the manufacturers will have to install sensors on the manual transmission shift rails to determine that the manual gearshift is in neutral position. Future vehicles will all have an electric parking brake (no manual engagement lever allowed). The electric parking brake will have to be set from the previous vehicle shut down. All this plus the existing clutch neutral disengagement switch properly set. More complexity( starting logic nightmare ) and cost. .

 

[Los_Control]

I can see some fallout from this litigation that could affect auto manufacturers in the future.

Just like warnings on a bucket that babies can drown in them .... Is this really the direction we want to go in?

Seriously you need a warning then we have failed as Humans.

 

[85lebaront2]

Like push power mowers that shut off when you let go of the handle because years ago either Popular Science or Popular Mechanics had an article on using your rotary mower as a hedge trimmer.

You built a track to roll the mower along while standing on the side opposite the chute. Instructions stated to place the mower on the track and start it. Shortly after this time Craftsman introduced their "vertical pull" starter. Some budding Darwin award contestant found he couldn't start his Craftsman mower sitting on the track. He started it on the ground and reached under both ends to lift it, already running to place it on the frame.

His lawyer manged to find enough jurors to win a substantial settlement against Sears and we now have "stupid proof" power mowers.

I wonder what new and inane regulations will come from this one?

 

[AceHanlon]

Like push power mowers that shut off when you let go of the handle because years ago either Popular Science or Popular Mechanics had an article on using your rotary mower as a hedge trimmer.

You built a track to roll the mower along while standing on the side opposite the chute. Instructions stated to place the mower on the track and start it. Shortly after this time Craftsman introduced their "vertical pull" starter. Some budding Darwin award contestant found he couldn't start his Craftsman mower sitting on the track. He started it on the ground and reached under both ends to lift it, already running to place it on the frame.

His lawyer manged to find enough jurors to win a substantial settlement against Sears and we now have "stupid proof" power mowers.

I wonder what new and inane regulations will come from this one?

What in the world is wrong with humans.

Next they're gonna say not to drink antifreeze in car manuals because it looks like Kool aid.

 

[06PTElectricBlue]

Owner of Jeep is sued for $15M by family of mechanic

Jeffrey Hawkins, 42, a married father-of-four, was killed on March 13, 2020, while changing the Jeep's oil at Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership in Michigan.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Better explanation...

This story makes much more sense.

So the family of the dead mechanic will get compensated, in the end by the dealership (his former employer) they just have to go through the vehicle owner to get their $.

And as long as the dealership, in the end, is the one paying the judgement, then I have no problem with that because, IMO, the dealership is ultimately responsible for the death.

I'm still curious why it took 2 years for this case to come to trial.

And the lawyer sues for $15M, but the case will probably be settled for $5M or less.

 

[Doug D]

What in the world is wrong with humans.

To quote Forrest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does."

using your rotary mower as a hedge trimmer.

Why not just use the proper tool for it? Like, ya know, a hedge trimmer. Jeez Louize.

Seriously you need a warning then we have failed as Humans.

Indeed. I knew something was wrong when the warning "Caution Beverage may be hot." label was put on disposable cups after the McDonald's lawsuit years ago. I mean, when ordering a hot beverage wouldn't you expect it to be hot?

It's utterly amazing how stupid, ignorant or idiotic some people are. It's a wonder the human race has lasted as long as it has. Surprised we haven't killed ourselves off by stupidity or war.

So the family of the dead mechanic will get compensated, in the end by the dealership (his former employer) they just have to go through the vehicle owner to get their $.

And as long as the dealership, in the end, is the one paying the judgement, then I have no problem with that because, IMO, the dealership is ultimately responsible for the death.

Actually, it's the dealer's insurance that will have to pay out. He'll probably end up with higher premiums though. I could be wrong - I'm not sure how that works.

 

[06PTElectricBlue]

To quote Forrest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does."

Why not just use the proper tool for it? Like, ya know, a hedge trimmer. Jeez Louize.


Indeed. I knew something was wrong when the warning "Caution Beverage may be hot." label was put on disposable cups after the McDonald's lawsuit years ago. I mean, when ordering a hot beverage wouldn't you expect it to be hot?

It's utterly amazing how stupid, ignorant or idiotic some people are. It's a wonder the human race has lasted as long as it has. Surprised we haven't killed ourselves off by stupidity or war.

Actually, it's the dealer's insurance that will have to pay out. He'll probably end up with higher premiums though. I could be wrong - I'm not sure how that works.

That's what I meant that the dealer's insurance will be footing the judgement, but at least it won't be the vehicle owner, they did nothing wrong.

Now the real fallout from this payout will be, if there is any financial loss by the dealership, all they have to do is add a few $ to every vehicle they sell, and to all the service work that they do, and they won't be out a single penny as every customer using that dealership will be financing the payout.

Now that's the American way

 

[AceHanlon]

To quote Forrest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does."

Why not just use the proper tool for it? Like, ya know, a hedge trimmer. Jeez Louize.


Indeed. I knew something was wrong when the warning "Caution Beverage may be hot." label was put on disposable cups after the McDonald's lawsuit years ago. I mean, when ordering a hot beverage wouldn't you expect it to be hot?

It's utterly amazing how stupid, ignorant or idiotic some people are. It's a wonder the human race has lasted as long as it has. Surprised we haven't killed ourselves off by stupidity or war.

Actually, it's the dealer's insurance that will have to pay out. He'll probably end up with higher premiums though. I could be wrong - I'm not sure how that works.

The movie Idiocracy comes to mind lol.