Actor Paul Walker's father sues Porsche over fatal crash

[webfact]

Actor Paul Walker's father sues Porsche over fatal crash
By ANTHONY McCARTNEY

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paul Walker's father sued Porsche for negligence and wrongful death Wednesday over the 2013 accident that killed the "Fast & Furious" star.

Walker's father, who is the executor of his son's estate, filed the lawsuit claiming that the Porsche Carrera GT that his son was riding in lacked safety features that could have saved the actor's life.

The lawsuit cites features included in other pending lawsuits against the automaker over the crash that might have saved the actor's life, including a stability control system, side-door reinforcements and a breakaway fuel line to help prevent the car from bursting into flames after a collision.

Walker was on a break from filming the seventh film in the "Fast & Furious" franchise when he was killed. He was riding in the Carrera GT driven by friend and business associate Roger Rodas when the car spun out of control, struck three trees and burst into flames on a street in Santa Clarita, California.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Rodas' widow, Kristine, who has a pending claim against Porsche in federal court, also filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the carmaker in state court on Wednesday.

An after-hours message sent to Porsche seeking comment was not immediately returned.

The car company has denied in other lawsuits, including one filed by the actor's daughter, that it is responsible for Walker's death.

On Nov. 12, Porsche stated in a court filing that the Carrera GT had been altered and improperly maintained and those factors contributed to the deaths of Walker and Rodas.

The company also called Walker "a knowledgeable and sophisticated user of the 2005 Carrera GT," Porsche's lawyers stated in response to the lawsuit by Meadow Walker, the actor's daughter.

Meadow Walker's attorney, Jeff Milam, criticized the filing, reiterating his claims that the car as sold was unsafe.

"If Porsche had designed the car to include proper safety features, Paul would have survived, he would be filming 'Fast and Furious 8,' and Meadow Walker would have the father she adored," Milam wrote in a statement.

None of the cases have yet been set for trial.

Wednesday's lawsuit repeats a claim from Meadow Walker's case that the Porsche was traveling between 63 and 71 mph (101 to 114 kph) before it spun out of control.

Investigators concluded the Porsche was going much faster — up to 94 mph (151 kph) — when it crashed.

The investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol concluded that it was unsafe speed and not mechanical problems that caused the crash. That investigation was aided by engineers from Porsche, who evaluated the wreckage of the rare car.

Walker, the star of the "Fast & Furious" film franchise, co-owned an auto racing team with Rodas named Always Evolving. Meadow Walker, 17, is the sole heir of his estate, which is controlled by the actor's father, Paul William Walker III.

Walker's two brothers helped complete action scenes in "Furious 7," which earned more than $1.5 billion globally after it was released in April.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-11-26

[ezzra]

We live in a world where a reckless driver can sue the car's manufacturer for not installed better safety features,

go and tell those idiots, that no matter what safety features a car will have, an idiot and irresponsible driver will

not benefits from it, because simply put, no one has produced an idiot's proof car yet...

[HooHaa]

shameless money grab. 150 kph on a city street. too fast. too furious.

[impulse]

Here's a thought.

Howza 'bout Porsche sues the estate of Paul Walker for giving their product a bad name through his recklessness and wanton disregard for the safety of others...

[BKKBrit]

Too fast, too stupid.

[Seastallion]

Speed limits are set for a reason: Safety.

Modified cars can not be expected to act in the way the manufacturer intended.

[Scott]

Here's a thought.

Howza 'bout Porsche sues the estate of Paul Walker for giving their product a bad name through his recklessness and wanton disregard for the safety of others...

He wasn't driving the car.

[impulse]

Here's a thought.

Howza 'bout Porsche sues the estate of Paul Walker for giving their product a bad name through his recklessness and wanton disregard for the safety of others...

He wasn't driving the car.

Then shouldn't the family be suing the guy who was? Had he not been violating the law, Mr Walker would still be with us, and innocent bystanders wouldn't have been put at risk.

Pockets not deep enough to interest the lawyers, I imagine.

Besides, any good tort lawyer would tell Porsche to sue everyone involved- driver and passenger. That way, the defendant can't get away by deflecting blame to the other guy who wasn't named in the lawsuit.

[Scott]

Here's a thought.

Howza 'bout Porsche sues the estate of Paul Walker for giving their product a bad name through his recklessness and wanton disregard for the safety of others...

He wasn't driving the car.

Then shouldn't the family be suing the guy who was? Had he not been violating the law, Mr Walker would still be with us, and innocent bystanders wouldn't have been put at risk.

Pockets not deep enough to interest the lawyers, I imagine.

Besides, any good tort lawyer would tell Porsche to sue everyone involved- driver and passenger. That way, the defendant can't get away by deflecting blame to the other guy who wasn't named in the lawsuit.

I have no idea who they should sue, or if they should sue, nor do I much care. I was simply responding to the post about Porsche possibly suing Walker.

[BKKdreaming]

Porsche lost another case back in the 1980s when a guy crashed his 930 Turbo and the wife sued ,

She said that they never should have sold it to him as he was not a good enough driver !

Porsche should have sued her for not nagging him enough so he would sell it so she would shut up !

[car720]

Speed limits are set for a reason: Safety.

Modified cars can not be expected to act in the way the manufacturer intended.

Can I reiterate what I said in an earlier post though.

If we have maximum speed limits in a country of 110kms per hour then why do car manufacturers make cars that show 280+ kph on the speedo. Also how many ads for cars subliminally indicate that it is wonderful to speed wherever you go.

Personally I feel that car manufacturers do have some accountability. Just not necessarily in this case.

[xtrnuno41]

be aware of what you drive and how to drive. And even then...... you play with fire , you can get burnend ! It just takes a second

Rediculous of blaming Porsche, they knew what they were driving.

[JohnnyHK]

Paul Walker seemed like a nice guy and I'm sure he provided for his family quite well. Now that he was killed due to his friends recklessness the father sues who? Porsche, because they have more money!!! Keeping up the Hollywood lifestyle without our meal ticket will require a new strategy.

Pathetic, this reminds me of the person who bankrupted gun manufacturer AMT because their relative was killed by someone with one of their guns. I guess suing the person who killed or the bullet manufacturer would not earn enough.

[smotherb]

We live in a world where a reckless driver can sue the car's manufacturer for not installed better safety features,

go and tell those idiots, that no matter what safety features a car will have, an idiot and irresponsible driver will

not benefits from it, because simply put, no one has produced an idiot's proof car yet...

While I agree a litigious society is problematic, Paul Walker wasn't driving. Apparently, no one can make an idiot-proof post either.

[bangon04]

"and a breakaway fuel line to help prevent the car from bursting into flames after a collision."

but but... every Hollywood movie I ever saw shows that US cars burst into flames after every collision. I thought it was a design feature.

[tolsti]

Me also... And whenever their Police cars go over a bump the boot and bonnet fly open.

[pacovl46]

If anyone should sue anyone, then it should be Paul's family suing the Rodas estate. Porsche issued a statement when the car came out that no one should drive it before having taken part in their safety program especially designed for the Carrera GT. In my opinion the cause of the accident was excessive speed and those stupid reflectors that are set into the road. The GT went over one of them with the left rear wheel and then spun out, as this car is known to do when it hits bumps in the road at high speeds. It is a well known fact in the driver's community that this car is not an easy one to drive fast, and Rodas of all people should've really known better than going 90 miles an hour within city limits, especially with those reflectors on the tarmac!

[tomacht8]

Next time they cut with a knife a bread into slices and injured themselfs in the process , then they will also sue the knife manufacturer.

Dumb and greedy.

[gandalf12]

According to Porsche he had modified the car himself. If any safety features were missing it would then have been due to him modifying the vehicle. Yuo can protect against most thing but unfortuantely not stupidity

[White Christmas13]

Speed limits are set for a reason: Safety.

Modified cars can not be expected to act in the way the manufacturer intended.

Can I reiterate what I said in an earlier post though.

If we have maximum speed limits in a country of 110kms per hour then why do car manufacturers make cars that show 280+ kph on the speedo. Also how many ads for cars subliminally indicate that it is wonderful to speed wherever you go.

Personally I feel that car manufacturers do have some accountability. Just not necessarily in this case.

As you know Porsche is a German car and in Germany on the Autobahn you can drive

unlimited speed on certain places

[petedk]

Here's a thought.

Howza 'bout Porsche sues the estate of Paul Walker for giving their product a bad name through his recklessness and wanton disregard for the safety of others...

That is the big difference between east and west.

In the west they sue for millions of dollars for physical damage whereas they can almost say what they want to each other.

In Thailand they sue for millions if someone says something bad about them, but injuries and death? Well just a few thousand dollars.

[Time Traveller]

We live in a world where a reckless driver can sue the car's manufacturer for not installed better safety features,

go and tell those idiots, that no matter what safety features a car will have, an idiot and irresponsible driver will

not benefits from it, because simply put, no one has produced an idiot's proof car yet...

This is part of the leftists who don't beleive in personal responsibilty for anything. It was always someone else's fault.

You know, cars are bad, guns are bad, that tired argument.

[elgordo38]

As long as they have contingency sharks swimming around the madness will continue. 80% for them 20% for you

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.

[stevenl]

We live in a world where a reckless driver can sue the car's manufacturer for not installed better safety features,

go and tell those idiots, that no matter what safety features a car will have, an idiot and irresponsible driver will

not benefits from it, because simply put, no one has produced an idiot's proof car yet...

This is part of the leftists who don't beleive in personal responsibilty for anything. It was always someone else's fault.

You know, cars are bad, guns are bad, that tired argument.

Hmm, leftists?

If anything this is legal system is monetary and far from leftist.

[bangon04]

Next time they cut with a knife a bread into slices and injured themselfs in the process , then they will also sue the knife manufacturer.

Dumb and greedy.

The knife manufacturer / importer in the USA has a clear duty to put a large sign on each knife -

"WARNING. This knife can cut "

so that US citizens can make an fully informed choice about whether to use the knife or not.

[sanukjim]

We live in a world where a reckless driver can sue the car's manufacturer for not installed better safety features,

go and tell those idiots, that no matter what safety features a car will have, an idiot and irresponsible driver will

not benefits from it, because simply put, no one has produced an idiot's proof car yet...

Does this mean John Candy's mother should sue Bugger King for John's heart attack because he might have been over weight from eating there ?

[gandalf12]

Put an idiot behind the wheel of what is essentially a racing car and you can only expect they will crash it. That is no reflection on th manufacturer just an indictment of the idiotic driver

[manarak]

frivolous lawsuit.

suit should be dismissed after viewing basic evidence and suing parties should be fined a minimum of 100.000 USD and up to twice their legal costs for wasting the court's time.

Porsche should be given the opportunity to sue for denigration.

Edited November 27, 2015 by manarak

[sanukjim]

Paul Walker seemed like a nice guy and I'm sure he provided for his family quite well. Now that he was killed due to his friends recklessness the father sues who? Porsche, because they have more money!!! Keeping up the Hollywood lifestyle without our meal ticket will require a new strategy.

Pathetic, this reminds me of the person who bankrupted gun manufacturer AMT because their relative was killed by someone with one of their guns. I guess suing the person who killed or the bullet manufacturer would not earn enough.

AMT filed for bankruptcy because their products (copies of existing guns) made out of stainless steel instead of the more reliable traditional steel at the time) was pledged by product failure.The law suite was not from an individual but Ruger Gun Co. about a clone they made. .Their rights and trademarks were purchased in succession by three different company s