The Biggest Product Liability Payouts of 2025

Georgia: $2.5B Verdict Against Ford in Fatal Truck Roof Collapse Case

Represented by: Page Scrantom Sprouse Tucker & Ford PC, Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP

A Georgia federal jury delivered a landmark $2.5 billion punitive damages verdict against Ford Motor Co. after finding the automaker primarily liable for the wrongful death of Debra and Herman Mills. The couple died in 2022 when the roof of their Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup caved in during a rollover crash, causing fatal asphyxiation. The jury assigned 85% of the fault to Ford, awarding the Mills' children over $30.5 million in compensatory damages. However, the court reduced Ford’s liability for compensatory damages by 15%, reflecting partial responsibility assigned to Debra Mills.

The plaintiffs’ attorneys emphasized that Ford had been aware of the weak roofs on its Super Duty trucks for decades but failed to act, a point underscored by a similar $1.7 billion punitive verdict against the company in 2022. Ford maintains that its vehicles are not defective and intends to appeal the ruling, citing previous jury decisions in its favor. The Mills' lawsuit alleged that Ford resisted implementing stronger roof designs and lobbied against stricter safety regulations, only adopting improvements in 2017 models. The case highlights the ongoing debate over corporate responsibility and vehicle safety standards.

Massachusetts: $286M Suit Claims PerkinElmer Sold Faulty Lab Equipment

Represented by: Harris Beach Murtha, Thomas C. Allison PA

A group of 26 cannabis testing laboratories in the United States and Canada has filed a lawsuit against PerkinElmer Health Services Inc., now known as Revvity, alleging that the company knowingly sold them defective testing equipment. The plaintiffs claim the Massachusetts-based company misrepresented its laboratory instruments as fully compliant with state-mandated cannabis testing requirements, despite being aware that the equipment could not accurately perform the necessary analyses. The labs further assert that PerkinElmer blamed equipment failures on "operator error" and failed to disclose similar complaints from other customers. Seeking at least $286 million in damages, the plaintiffs contend that the company’s actions resulted in financial losses, with some labs even forced out of business.

The lawsuit also alleges that PerkinElmer routinely delayed the delivery of equipment, failed to honor service requests, and abruptly withdrew from the cannabis testing market in 2022. The plaintiffs argue that they only discovered the full extent of the company's alleged misconduct last year through information obtained from other lawsuits. The complaint, filed in Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston, includes claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of warranty, and violations of Massachusetts’ consumer protection law. The case highlights concerns over the integrity of cannabis testing processes, which are essential for ensuring compliance with state and provincial regulations in the expanding legal cannabis industry.

Washington: $100M Verdict in School PCB Exposure Case Against Monsanto

Represented by: Friedman Rubin PLLP, Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC, Trial Lawyers for Justice

A Washington state jury awarded $100 million to four plaintiffs who alleged they suffered health issues due to PCB exposure at Sky Valley Education Center. This verdict, while significantly lower than the $4 billion sought by 15 plaintiffs, adds to Monsanto’s existing $1.1 billion in liability over the site. The jury found that Monsanto knowingly sold a dangerous product—polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)—without adequate warnings, leading to both compensatory and punitive damages. The company, now owned by Bayer AG, plans to appeal the decision, arguing that PCB levels at the school were too low to have caused the plaintiffs' ailments.

This case marks the tenth trial against Monsanto concerning PCB exposure at the school, with nearly 200 individuals linking health conditions to the chemicals. Previous jury awards have been reduced or overturned on appeal, and the Washington Supreme Court is set to review key legal questions affecting these cases. Meanwhile, additional trials are scheduled in 2025 and 2026, potentially increasing Monsanto's financial and legal exposure.

Missouri: $25M Verdict in Toddler’s Drowning Case Against Pool Maker

Represented by: TorHoerman Law LLC

A St. Louis federal jury has awarded $25 million to the family of a 2-year-old girl who drowned after climbing into a defectively designed above-ground pool manufactured by Bestway USA Inc. The jury found that the company's 51-inch-tall pool had a nylon strap around its exterior that enabled the child to scale its walls in seconds. Bestway was deemed 65% liable for the wrongful death of Ellieanna Justice, with the remaining fault assigned to other parties. The jury also determined that Bestway failed to warn consumers of the hazard.

Throughout the trial, the plaintiffs presented evidence, including muddy child-sized footprints on the pool’s exterior, to demonstrate how Ellieanna entered the pool. Bestway, however, disputed this theory, arguing that the evidence was circumstantial. The litigation, which spanned three years, initially included Rural King, the retailer that sold the pool, and Ellieanna's grandparents, who were later dismissed from the case. Bestway remained the sole defendant at trial, where the jury deliberated for six hours before reaching a verdict in favor of the Justice family.

California: $12.25M Settlement Over Fitbit Smartwatch Burn Hazards

Represented by: CPSC: Mark S. Raffman and Leah W. Ippolito

Fitbit has agreed to pay a $12.25 million civil penalty to settle allegations by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that it failed to promptly report incidents of its Ionic smartwatches overheating, which led to burn injuries. The commission alleged that despite receiving reports of overheating as early as 2018, Fitbit did not immediately inform regulators. The company eventually recalled around one million units in 2022, acknowledging over 100 cases of overheating in the U.S. and nearly 60 internationally, with multiple reports of second- and third-degree burns. The settlement, which does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing, also requires Fitbit to implement enhanced compliance measures and internal controls to prevent similar issues in the future.

CPSC officials emphasized the importance of holding companies accountable for product safety violations. Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric stated that the settlement demonstrates CPSC's commitment to ensuring companies take responsibility for hazardous products, while Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. remarked that the fine serves as a warning to manufacturers and retailers about the consequences of withholding safety concerns from the public. In a separate legal matter, Google, which owns Fitbit, faced a class action lawsuit in 2022 related to the smartwatch defects but successfully compelled arbitration. A federal judge dismissed the case in 2023, citing Fitbit’s terms of service, which included an arbitration provision.

Conclusion

The biggest product liability verdicts and settlements of 2025 underscore the significant impact of defective products on consumer safety and the essential role of litigation in holding manufacturers accountable. As courts continue to address complex claims and new cases emerge, these rulings shape the landscape of product safety standards and corporate responsibility.

For a look at last year’s most notable product liability cases, see our Top Product Liability Payouts of 2024.