
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 18, 1995                   TAG: 9506190028
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MORGANTOWN, W.VA.                                LENGTH: Short

LAND CRUISER SUIT SETTLEMENT IS $3.2 MILLION

A woman was awarded more than $3.2 million for injuries received when her Toyota Land Cruiser flipped over in a collision.

A jury found Toyota Motor Corp. partially at fault for the 1993 accident that broke Melinda Kay Jones' back and left her a paraplegic.

The jury on Friday awarded Jones $219,785 for medical bills and lost wages, and $3 million for pain and suffering.

It ordered Toyota to pay half and the driver of the car that struck Jones' Land Cruiser, James Michael Rowan, to pay the other half.

Toyota said it would not appeal the decision. Rowan did not attend the trial and his phone number in the Morgantown area was not listed.

Jones' lawyers said her 1974 Toyota's roll bar was weak and never should have sagged in a crash at less than 20 mph.

Owners of other sport utility vehicles, including the Ford Bronco II and the Suzuki Samurai, have sued the manufacturers, claiming they roll over too easily.

by CNB