Mikolajczyk v. Ford Motor Co., Mazda Motor Corp.

              THIRD DIVISION
November 22, 2006
No. 1-05-3133
CONNIE MIKOLAJCZYK, Individually and as ) Appeal from the
Special Administrator of the Estate of James ) Circuit Court of
Mikolajczyk, Deceased, ) Cook County.
)
Plaintiff-Appellee, ))
v. ) No. 00L3342
)
FORD MOTOR COMPANY and MAZDA )
MOTOR CORPORATION, ))
The Honorable
Defendants-Appellants ) James P. Flannery, Jr.,
) Judge Presiding.
(William D. Timberlake, ))
Defendant). )
JUSTICE GREIMAN delivered the opinion of the court:
Plaintiff Connie Mikolajczyk, individually and as special administrator of the estate of
her deceased husband James Mikolajczyk (hereinafter referred to as James), brought suit alleging
strict products liability for a defective design against defendants Ford Motor Company and
Mazda Motor Corporation (hereinafter referred to as defendants) and negligence against
defendant William D. Timberlake (hereinafter referred to as Timberlake). James died when his
Ford Escort was hit from behind by Timberlake’s car. Summary judgment was entered against
Timberlake and the case proceeded to a jury trial on the strict products liability claim. The jury
found Timberlake 60% responsible for causing James’s death and defendants 40% responsible.
The jury awarded plaintiff $2 million for loss of money, goods and services and $25 million for
loss of society and sexual relations. On appeal, defendants contend (1) that the trial court erred