Michelin Tire Lawsuit Results in $220M Payout Over Family Killed in Crash

Jurors concluded that tread separation in a defective Michelin tire was the direct cause of a tragic accident, which killed three family members.

A jury recently awarded $220 million in a wrongful death lawsuit, after finding that tread separation in a defective Michelin tire caused a vehicle to cross into oncoming traffic, causing a fatal collision with another vehicle.

The complaint (PDF) was originally filed by Marc Grano and three other individuals as representatives of the estates of Rosalva Marin, her daughter Laura Marin Zamarripa and her granddaughter Alexis Zamarripa in New Mexico District Court on July 24, 2021. It named Michelin North America Inc. and Discount Tire Company of New Mexico Inc. as defendants. 

According to the lawsuit, the crash occurred on July 12, 2021, as the family traveled northbound on County Road 211 in Gaines County, Texas. 

Laura Marin Zamarripa was driving a Ford Excursion when the front driver-side tire allegedly suffered a sudden tread separation, causing the vehicle to cross into the southbound lane and collide head-on with an oncoming Chevrolet pickup towing a trailer, killing all three occupants of the Excursion.

Court filings indicate the Excursion had been equipped with four Michelin LTX M/S2 tires that were purchased and installed at a Discount Tire location in Hobbs, New Mexico. The tire that allegedly failed was manufactured at Michelin’s Dothan, Alabama plant during the 23rd week of 2014, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit alleges the tire was defectively designed and manufactured, citing failures in belt adhesion, curing, bonding and internal construction. Plaintiffs also contend the tire lacked adequate belt-edge protection, relied on an inferior belt system and contained insufficient antioxidant and antiozonant compounds, leaving it prone to premature failure.

According to the filing, the alleged defects were internal and not discoverable by consumers, who relied on Michelin and Discount Tire to sell and install tires that were safe for normal and foreseeable use. The complaint also accuses both companies of failing to adequately warn consumers about risks associated with tire aging or deterioration over time.

“The defective conditions of the subject tire were designed, manufactured and assembled so that it would be undiscoverable until such a time as an accident occurred.”

— Marc Grano et al v. Michelin North America Inc. et al

The lawsuit brought claims of strict product liability, negligence, failure to warn and breach of implied warranties against Michelin, alleging the tire was unreasonably dangerous when it left the manufacturer’s control and that safer alternative designs were available.

Discount Tire was also accused of negligence and strict liability, with the complaint alleging the retailer sold and installed an aged tire, failed to properly inspect it and did not warn the family of the risks posed by tire age and tread separation.

Michelin Tire Verdict

A verdict (PDF) was returned in the case on December 12, 2025, with the jury finding Michelin North America liable for defects in the tire at issue. Jurors concluded that the tire was defective when it left the manufacturer’s control and that the defect was a producing cause of the deaths, according to the special verdict.

Jurors also found that the tire was defective at the time it was sold by Discount Tire, and that the defect contributed to the fatal crash. However, the jury assigned 100% of the responsibility to Michelin, finding no comparative fault attributable to Discount Tire or the vehicle occupants.

The verdict awarded compensatory damages to surviving family members for past and future loss of companionship, society and mental anguish arising from the three deaths. Individual awards ranged from $5 million to $6.25 million per claimant, resulting in a combined compensatory damages award of $220 million.

Jurors also found that the harm resulted from Michelin’s gross negligence, satisfying the legal standard for exemplary damages under New Mexico law. However, the jury declined to award punitive damages despite that finding.

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