Honda settles out of court

Press, 3 June 1981, Page 9

Honda settles out of court

NZPA-Reuter Miami The Honda Motor Company has settled out of court for $750,000 with a couple whose 12-year-old son was killed when their Honda Civic was struck from behind, according to lawyers in the case. Mr P. J. Carroll, attorney for Sidney and Molly Golding, of Miami Beach, said’ he had pretrial depositions from witnesses alleging that the Civic was not built to withstand rear-end collisions at the time of the crash, which occurred seven years ago. The case was to go to court yesterday in Broward County, but the Honda Motor Company reached the settlement with the family at the week-end. Honda's lawyer, Gary Chernay, said the company

wanted to go to court but its insurance company decided to settle with the Goldings, whose son, Lee, was killed. Mr Carroll said he had a 1974 model Civic cut in half in an effort to prove his ” point aboiiTthe Civic’s ability to withstand fear-end crashes. “The back of the car was just sheet metal with no support,” .Mr Carroll said. “It’s shocking.” He said the other car - involved in- the accident, a Chevrolet, was travelling at 40 km/h at the time of the collision. Honda attorneys said the collision: speed was 45 mph. The Civic met all Federal regulations, Mr Carroll said, but a 1972 Government bulletin advised Honda to build restraining support into the back of . the car.