Summary: A judge ruled in favor of Porsche in a liability case stemming from the car accident that killed actor Paul Walker.
On Monday, a federal judge said that Porsche was not responsible for the death of Paul Walker, according to The Hollywood Reporter. However, the luxury car company is still facing other wrongful death lawsuits that stem from the 2013 death of the beloved Fast and Furious actor and his friend Roger Rodas.
The Rodas family sued Porsche in January. They said a car defect contributed to the deadly accident, where Rodas was racing at a police reported speed of 90 mph before he lost control and the car crashed before erupting into flames.
U.S. District Court Judge Philip S. Gutierrez said the majority of his ruling concerns Rodas’ product liability claims. He said that in a scientific case like this one, the plaintiff is required to provide expert testimony that establishes causation. He stated that Rodas’ expert’s first report was insufficient and his second contradicted the first.
Gutierrez also sided with Porsche on Rodas’ survival and wrongful death claims, saying there was no evidence that the fault was with Porsche.
Rodas was represented by Mark Geragos who told The Hollywood Reporter that they will appeal.
Walker’s father Paul Walker III and his daughter Meadow Walker are each suing Porsche for wrongful death. Meadow’s attorney Jeffrey Milam said that Monday’s ruling has no effect on their case. Paul’s attorney Christopher Heck could not be reached for comment.
Attorney Milam explained that Meadow’s case involved Paul Walker, who was the passenger, not driver. According to Milam, Walker survived the crash but was trapped in the vehicle because of the car’s defects.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter