Mitsubishi Releases Statement Regarding Verdict in Simo Case

CYPRESS, CA - March 19, 2006: On Friday, Mitsubishi Motors released an announcement of great disappointment in, and disagreement with the verdict returned by the jury in this case the day prior.*

The statement read, "The Montero Sport is a well designed vehicle that has been driven safely, in this country, for hundreds of millions of miles. This particular accident involved alcohol, sleep deprivation, college kids, and speeding at two o'clock in the morning. The driver fell asleep at the wheel, then came to, making a series of extreme steering maneuvers to avoid rear-ending a tractor trailer. This caused his vehicle to roll over whereupon it was struck directly on the roof by another tractor trailer, at high speed. Despite all this, the Montero Sport protected the plaintiff very well and he made a good recovery from his injuries. Again, Mitsubishi is very disappointed by this verdict and will both carefully review and pursue its appellate options."

*A federal court jury in South Carolina has found Mitsubishi Motors liable in the 2002 crash that injured college soccer player Chefik Simo, and awarded him $7 million. The verdict in the case follows an eight-day trial in the U.S. District Court in Greenville, S.C. In ruling in Mr. Simo's favor, the jury found the Mitsubishi Montero Sport defective in its stability. Jurors also agreed with the plaintiff's argument the vehicle was unreasonably dangerous, and found the company had been negligent in failing to properly test the vehicle.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mitsubishi’s SUVs have been “the victim” of what I’ve believed to be spurious accusations. My own experiences with the Montero and Montero Sport has always shown that these vehicles are comparable to any other major brand SUV on the market. On June 24, 2001, in response to a Consumer Reports’ hatchet job on the Montero, I stated my views in a TACH editorial. To read this item CLICK HERE. It may provide some perspective, although I have no detailed knowledge of the “facts” surrounding the SIMO CASE.

Marc J. Rauch