Mitsubishi Faces Major Setback in Billion-Dollar Lawsuit Appeal

A major legal development unfolded as a Pennsylvania court vacated a previous ruling that awarded over US$1 billion to Francis Amagasu, who was left paralyzed following a crash involving his 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT. The original judgment, issued in November 2023, found the automaker liable for several safety defects, including a roof design considered too low.

Amagasu’s crash occurred in 2017 during a failed passing maneuver in rural Pennsylvania, which resulted in the car colliding with several trees. This accident shattered his cervical spine, rendering him a quadriplegic. His son, a passenger in the vehicle, sustained minor injuries but was otherwise unharmed.

In the lawsuit against Mitsubishi, Amagasu’s family claimed that the 3000GT had multiple safety defects that exacerbated the severity of the crash. Central to their argument was the vehicle’s seat-belt design, which they described as having a “rip stitch” feature. This design, they argued, unnecessarily extended the seat belt by up to four inches during an accident, reducing available headroom in the low-profile sports car and contributing to Amagasu’s catastrophic injuries.

The jury’s unanimous verdict awarded Amagasu US$1,009,969,395.32, despite Mitsubishi’s assertions that its vehicle complied with all safety standards at the time of sale. Following the verdict, Mitsubishi appealed the decision. Earlier this month, a judge ruled to vacate the initial judgment entirely and ordered a new trial, emphasizing the need for further examination of the case.

Mitsubishi released a statement detailing their perspective on the court’s decision. They reiterated their commitment to safety and compliance, asserting that the 3000GT met or exceeded established safety benchmarks upon its release.

While specific details regarding Amagasu’s height were not disclosed in court documents, the 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT is known to have a height of approximately 50 inches. An official brochure from a 1994 model indicates a height of 50.6 inches (1,285 mm) for standard variants, while the sportier VR-4 model was slightly lower at 49.3 inches (1,253 mm).

For context, contemporary vehicles such as the 2024 Nissan Z Nismo stand at 51.8 inches tall with 38.2 inches of headroom, and the 2025 Mustang GT is even taller at 55.0 inches with 37.6 inches of headroom. This comparison highlights the ongoing discussions around vehicle design and safety, particularly concerning headroom in sports cars.

As this case moves toward a new trial, the implications for automotive safety standards and manufacturer liability remain significant. The outcome could set a precedent for how safety defects are assessed in relation to design choices in the automotive industry.