GM, Chrysler fighting jury award, NHTSA

GM calls the $150-million jury award to an Alabama driver injured in a Chevrolet Blazer five years ago "completely outrageous" and "a crushing blow to the concept of individual responsibility." Apparently Alex Hardy had "a few beers" and was not wearing his safety belt when he fell asleep on the way home from a watering hole at 3 a.m. and crashed his Chevrolet Blazer. "Today's decision is the crowning example of a state tort system gone berserk," says Thomas A. Gottschalk, GM's general counsel, adding that the automaker will appeal the verdict. Mr. Gottschalk says it's imperative that the nation address the abuse of the civil justice system with "a bipartisan effort that puts aside election-year politics." Chrysler, meanwhile, says it "strongly disagrees" with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's finding of non-compliance of seat-belt anchors on Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus vehicles and won't recall them. Chrysler says NHTSA used non-objective testing procedures not specified by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Court action comes next.