A federal jury in Texas hit the maker of the ET-Plus guard rail end terminal with a $175 million verdict today -- likely to triple to $525 million plus additional penalties -- saying the company failed to notify the U.S. about design changes made to the most commonly-used guard rail end terminal in the country.
FOX Undercover told you earlier this month about a Massachusetts' woman's lawsuit against ET-Plus manufacturer Trinity Industries. She like others across the country blame Trinity for making a defective guard rail end terminal that can turn the guard rail into a giant spear that skewers oncoming vehicles.
The woman, Dianna Allen, attended the week-long trial and told FOX Undercover she is glad about the verdict.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently decided to stop buying new ET-Plus end terminals after a study was released saying they are more likely to cause death and injury in a crash when compared with other guard rail end terminals.
Trinity has said they stand by their product and suggested they would appeal today's verdict, saying it wouldn't withstand legal scrutiny.
