EAST ST. LOUIS — Chrysler is being sued after an alleged system failure on its Dodge Ram Truck caused a man to be run over while the truck was in park.
Leandra Bryant, individually and as administrator of the Estate of Lucas M. Bryant, deceased, filed a complaint Oct. 21 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against FCA US LLC, frequently known as Chrysler Group LLC, frequently known as Chrysler LLC, frequently known as Daimler Chrysler, alleging wrongful death and other claims.
According to the plaintiff's complaint, her son, Lucas Bryant, died on Dec. 1, 2019, after he was run over by his Dodge Ram 2500 pick-up truck. The plaintiff claims that the Dodge Ram was defective and susceptible to a "park system failure" where the transmission and its linkage failed to engage and hold the park position.
Bryant alleges that without any warning or action by the vehicle's operator, the transmission "engages and activates" the Dodge Ram's reverse gear, which causes the truck to move "unexpectantly in a rearward direction while unattended."
The plaintiff claims the defendants failed to adequately test the vehicle or use quality control procedures and that the defective condition constitutes breach of express warranties provided by Chrysler.
The plaintiff seeks more than $75,000, trial by jury, interest and all other just relief. She is represented by Thomas Lech and Jennifer Wagner of The Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli PC in Edwardsville and Daniel DeFeo and G. Dominic DeFeo Law Firm in Kansas City.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:21-CV-1312