Parents of student who died in Jeep are suing, allege wrongful death

TEXARKANA, Ark. - The parents of a college student who was killed when the 2012 Jeep Liberty she was driving was struck from behind are suing the automaker for wrongful death.
Joe Dill and Kim Dill filed suit last week in a Texarkana federal court against FCA US, formerly known as Chrysler Group, the maker of the Jeep Jenee Dill was driving May 24, 2018. She was a student at Southern Arkansas University at the time of her death, according to a complaint filed by Dallas attorney Andrew Payne in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas.
The suit alleges Jenee Dill was stopped on U.S. 71 in Lockesburg, Arkansas, in Sevier County along with other motorists waiting for children to exit a school bus. Jenee Dill's Jeep was allegedly struck from behind.
"During this rear impact collision, the driver's seat, which was designed and made with insufficient strength, failed and deformed. This failure allowed the seat back to fail backwards and Jenee Dill to ramp up the deformed seat and strike her head on the interior," the complaint states.
The complaint alleges that the Jeep's restraint system was faulty as well and did not keep Jenee Dill in a seated position. The complaint alleges that Jenee Dill's fatal injuries, which included a skull fracture and subdural subarachnoid and intraventricular brain hemorrhages, could have been prevented with technology readily available in the marketplace.
According to the complaint, the front seat passenger of the Jeep suffered only minor injuries and walked away from the crash.
The complaint alleges negligence and gross negligence for the alleged insufficient seat and faulty restraint system and strict products liability. The suit seeks damages for the pain and suffering felt by Jenee Dill in the moments before her death and for her medical bills and final expenses.
The parents are also seeking damages for the loss of their only daughter.
The case is currently assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey. FCA has not filed a response to the complaint.

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