by Ford demands new trial in fatal crash case
Ford is attempting to appeal a court decision that, in February 2025, ordered the manufacturer to pay $2.5 billion to the family of the Mills couple. Debra and Herman Mills died in 2022 when their F-250 pickup truck rolled over. The court found that the deaths could have been avoided if the vehicle’s roof had been more robustly constructed.
Ford claims it has found new evidence – records that confirm jurors discussed a previous case against the company, even though the judge had prohibited it. The manufacturer insists this could have influenced the court’s decision. However, the victims’ family believes the records are unconvincing because they are not sworn testimony.
Series of lawsuits over weak vehicle roofs
This case is not the only one for Ford. Since 2014, the company has faced numerous accusations regarding the unreliable roof construction of its pickup trucks. In March 2025, another family filed a lawsuit after Steven Horn died in a rolled-over F-350 – the vehicle’s roof could not withstand the weight.
In a similar 2014 case, also involving a rollover of an F-250, the court initially awarded $1.7 billion, but Ford managed to get the verdict overturned. The company proved that the accident occurred due to improperly installed tires and unfastened seat belts. This precedent is now being used in the current dispute.
Lawyers note that such cases can drag on for years, especially when such large sums are involved. Ford, on one hand, is trying to protect its reputation, and on the other – to avoid financial losses. The victims’ families, in turn, insist that the company must be held accountable for design flaws. The court’s final decision could set an important precedent for similar cases in the future.
