Goodyear sues former lawyers over crash claim

ERJ staff report (DS)

Chicago, Illinois - Goodyear Tire & Rubber has filed a lawsuit against its former lawyers, Perkins Coie, a large, international law firm. Goodyear's suit - St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 10-L-225 -- suggests that it felt mistakes made by the lawyers forced it to settle with a defendant, rather than allowing the case to go to a jury trial.

The case involved two Americans, Michael Green and his wife Darla, who were riding a Harley motorcycle to Yellowstone National Park in June 2007. A blow-out in the rear tyre led to an crash. Both riders suffered injuries in the incident, though Michael walked away from the crash and initially refused medical treatment.

There were many extenuating circumstances: the bike was over-loaded, the tyre was both under-inflated and severely worn; the Greens were wearing helmets which specifically warned that they were novelty items only.

Goodyear said it carried no liability for the injuries. It claims that its lawyers made mistakes which resulted in Goodyear's key witness being prevented from giving evidence and furthermore, the lawyers failed to request a jury trial, which Goodyear had specifically requested.

Goodyear is seeking damages of $50 000 plus costs. The Perkins Coie lawyers named in the suit are Jeanne Cullen and Matthew Gehringer, both of whom are partners in Perkins Coie's Chicago office.

Goodyear is being represented by Chicago law firm, Spellmire & Sommer in its case against Perkins Coie.

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article in St Clair County Record