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Saturday, June 17, 1995 Page: 2A
SCRANTON — A federal judge declared a mistrial in the case of Wilkes-Barre
Area School Board member who is suing automobile manufacturers for injuries
suffered because of an alleged vehicle defect.
Alice Corba, who is also an attorney, claims her car suddenly accelerated
and crashed on Dec. 6, 1991.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Thomas Vanaskie granted a request by
attorneys for the automakers Volkswagen of America Inc. and Audi of America
Inc. to stop the trial.
Vanaskie said the jury hearing the case accidentally had been exposed to
evidence that was not admissible. The jury saw a bill for a transmission
repair on a 1985 Audi that Corba bought used in 1988. The bill had handwriting
on it to check the car for sudden acceleration.
The judge determined that even though Corba has alleged the car had a
defect that caused it to accelerate suddenly, the note on the bill was hearsay
evidence or information that is not the personal knowledge of a witness.
At the time the bill was shown to the jury, an expert witness for the
plaintiff was testifying.
The case will likely be retried in September, Vanaskie said.
Corba, who suffered facial, neck and head injuries in the crash, is seeking
in excess of $80,000 in damages in the case. She alleges the shift-lock
mechanism on the car failed because it had a defective design.