Michelin to appeal the New Mexico $220 million verdict
- Charles Reams 1
- Jan 5
- 2 min read
Michelin intends to appeal the $220 million New Mexico verdict for a fatal tire failure, as announced through its legal representation, attorney Wes Ball (of Laster Lynch Farrar & Ball).
The law firm is involved in fighting the case and announced the appeal in late 2025.
The firm aims to take the case to higher courts after the jury found Michelin 100% liable for the death of three family members due to a defective tire. Yes, Michelin has stated it will vigorously appeal the massive judgment seeking to have the verdict overturned.
Michelin’s Response
In its post-verdict statement, Michelin expressed disagreement with the jury’s findings. A Michelin spokesperson stated, “ The evidence showed at trial that the tire was seven years old, had been damaged, and had been in service approximately 70,000 miles. We believe in the quality, innovation, and safety of our products and will vigorously pursue all available legal avenues to seek a reversal."
Meanwhile, Discount Tire Company of New Mexico’s exoneration at trial illustrates the challenges of assigning fault in multi-defendant product cases. Retailers and service providers often depend on manufacturer representations of safety, and juries tend to place primary responsibility on the entity with direct control over product design and quality assurance.
Court filings show that the fatal incident occurred on July 12, 2021, in Gaines County, Texas, when Laura Zamarippa was driving her family vehicle with her mother, Rosalva Marin, and daughter, 14-year-old Alexis Zamarippa. The front driver-side tire, a Michelin LTX M/S 2, failed violently, causing the vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic. Both adults were pronounced dead at the scene, while the teenager later succumbed to her injuries at a nearby hospital.
Sources.
Newspapers such as Law360, MarketWatch, Business Wire, Yahoo, and various regional papers, including The Daily News and The Morning Sun, reported the large $220M jury verdict against Michelin in a New Mexico wrongful death case. Still, the verdict was a jury decision, not a loss at the New Mexico Supreme Court.
