The Ford Pinto Case: A Study in Applied Ethics, Business and Technology

THE FORD PINTO CASE : A STUDY IN APPLIED ETHICS , BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY

This book is a collection of the basic articles necessary for conducting a reach of well-grounded opinion on the central ethical question in the Pinto case , the kernel of which is presented in this essay . The chapters of this book cover the case itself , cost-benefit analysis , product liability , and government regulations . The aim of this essay is to construct , basing on this book , logical and consecutive picture of the situation that arose for Ford Pinto when it had turned out that

the car had considerable design defects that might have caused human casualties .The Ford Pinto was a subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company . The car 's design started in 1968 under the direction of Ford executive Lee Iacocca . Its first appearance was in 1971 , and was built through the 1980 model year . Trying to obtain a considerable market share , the car was designed and developed on an accelerated schedule During the first few years sales of the Pinto were excellent , but there was trouble impending

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First Incident

To describe the first incident that occurred to the car , Birsch devoted the whole Chapter 17 titled Grimshaw v . Ford Motor Company . In 1972 Mrs . Gray was traveling with her son Richard Grimshaw in a 1972 Pinto when their car was hit by another car traveling approximately thirty miles per hour . The impact ignited a fire in the Pinto which killed Lily Gray and left Richard Grimshaw with devastating injuries . A judgment was rendered against Ford and the jury awarded the Gray family 560 ,000 and Matthew Grimshaw 2 .5 million in compensatory damages . In addition to other indemnity the jury awarded 125 million in punitive damages as well . This was subsequently reduced to 3 .5 million

Second Incident

Six months after the disputable Grimshaw verdict , Ford was involved in another controversial case with the Pinto . The automobile 's fuel system design incited to the death of three women on August 10 , 1973 when their car was hit by another vehicle traveling at a relatively low speed . The driver in another car was a man with open beer bottles , marijuana caffeine pills and capsules of "speed " The fact that Ford had decided earlier not to upgrade the fuel system design presented an issue of public debate as a consequence of this case . The debate was boosted for the prosecutor of Elkart County , Indiana chose to prosecute Ford for reckless homicide and criminal recklessness

It is supposed that the case was a prime instance of corporate avarice and neglect for customers ' well-being . The other point of view is that this is an example of the consequences of media exaggerated attention to a small problem beyond reason . Regardless of opinion , the Ford Pinto case is a complex labyrinth of many complicated legal and ethical issues

To determine if the proper result was achieved , one...