US court rejects Goodyear's appeal of $7m tire defect verdict

New Orleans – The Louisiana Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal by Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., leaving in place a $7.2 million (€6.1 million) wrongful death verdict.

The case stems from a February 2014 incident in which Elwood Breaux Jr. was killed when a Goodyear G182 tire experienced a "zipper failure" and ruptured as he was inflating it, said the case lawyers Kaster, Lynch, Farrar & Ball in a 22 Oct statement.

A three-judge panel from Louisiana's fourth circuit court of appeal previously found that the trial judge had ruled properly that Goodyear had not carried out its duty to warn about its tires' dangers and how to avoid injury.

According to the lawyers, tire maker has now reached end of line in appeal of judgment. 

Interest accrued during Goodyear's appeal brings the award to nearly $8.9 million, the announcement added.