BECKLEY – An insurance company is seeking damages from Ford Motor Co. after a fire allegedly caused by a defective engine block heater.
Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Co., as subrogee of Marquis and Barbara Brooks and Rodney Powers, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia against Ford Motor Co. alleging negligence and other counts.
According to the complaint, on Jan. 27, 2017, a fire started in the engine block of Marquis Brooks' insured pickup truck, which was manufactured by defendant, shortly after he turned on the engine block heater. The suit states the fire damaged vehicles and the real and personal property owned by the Brooks' and Powers.
Erie Insurance Property & Casualty Co. alleges it made payments to and on behalf of its insureds in the amount of $465,651.64 for the damages caused by the incident.
The plaintiff holds Ford Motor Co. responsible because the defendant allegedly designed, manufactured and distributed the truck and engine block heater in a defective condition and failed to warn of the risk of harm to persons and property posed by the alleged defects.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks damages in the amount of $465,651.64, plus interest, costs and any further relief that the court may deem just and proper. It is represented by Jerad K. Horne of Brewster, Morhous, Cameron, Caruth, Moore, Kersey & Stafford PLLC in Bluefield.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number 5:17-cv-04606