Mitsubishi's US arm sued due to 3000GT restraining system defect

MANILA: Mitsubishi’s United States (US) arm is currently facing a liability lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania for a defect in the restraining system of a 3000GT sports car.

According to the material released through Mitsubishi’s investor relations channel, the company is being ordered to pay an amount of US$ 1.010 million (approximately P58.168 billion).

The said lawsuit relates to an accident that occurred in 2017 wherein Francis Amagasu — the plaintiff’s husband — lost control of his 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT while attempting to pass a car in front of him on a two-lane road and was seriously injured.

In 2018, Soomi Amagasu filed a case against Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA). The basis of the legal dispute was rooted in various types of damages, which the complainant insisted were caused by a defect in the restraining system of the vehicle.

The initial complaint requested damages above US$50,000 (around P2.88 million). The specific amount was not stated in the plaintiff’s petition, Mitsubishi noted.

In January 2021, MMC was dismissed as a defendant, leaving MMNA as the sole remaining defendant.

MMNA disputed the plaintiff’s claim that the vehicle was defective. Nevertheless, after a trial that proceeded to a jury verdict, the judgment ordering MMNA to pay P58.168 billion — US$ 976 million (P56.233 billion) in damages and US$ 33 million (P1.901 billion) in delay damages — was made on May 6, 2024.

Still, MMNA will appeal to the said court as the firm refuses to accept the said judgement.

“We do not accept the above judgement and MMNA plans to appeal to the higher court. Although MMC has estimated the financial impact of this lawsuit based on its own assessment, its final outcome and financial impact are uncertain at the moment. We will promptly announce any matters that should be disclosed in the future, including its impact on MMC’s financial results,” MMNA wrote.

“We will continue to provide vehicles in compliance with applicable laws and safety standards,” it added.

 

Photos from Reddit users Friendly_Orange_3727, ReturnOneWayTicket

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