Dommond E. Lonnie is a seasoned trial attorney who provides aggressive and innovative legal representation and advice for his clients in product liability, class action, commercial and toxic tort litigation. Mr. Lonnie has represented numerous domestic and foreign businesses and has substantial product liability expertise in crashworthiness, airbags/restraints, fires and suspensions/tires/rollovers, airbags/restraints, fires, brakes, and fuel systems cases. An experienced litigator and legal strategist, Mr. Lonnie implements litigation and investigation plans and manages all aspects of litigation and pre-suit claims to successful resolution. He has earned recognition in providing high level client service through timely and effective communication. Mr. Lonnie is recognized as one of the top six lawyers nationwide for automotive litigation by Legal 500 US 2021. He is a member of the Products, Class Action & Professional Liability practice group.

Management/Committees

• Executive Board Member

Significant Matters

• Perry v Kia Motors. Plaintiff sought $103.5 million in damages alleging her diffuse axonal traumatic brain injury was caused by a defect in the restraint systems (seat belt pretensioners and airbags) of her vehicle after she was involved in a significant side impact crash that caused the vehicle to rollover. Jury delivered a unanimous defense verdict in 60 minutes after a trial that lasted over two months. Defense verdict – July 2021.
• Stroud v Kia Motors. Plaintiffs sought $87 million dollars in damages alleging wrongful death and paralysis of 6 year old boy following severe automobile crash involving a Kia Optima. Jury delivered defense verdict following 3 week trial in Los Angeles Superior Court.  Defense verdict - February 2020.
• In re Hyundai and Kia Fuel Economy Litigation, 9^th en banc opinion reversing appellate court ruling that denied approval of class action settlement. Opinion filed June 2019.
• Brands/Leyba v General Motors. Plaintiffs claimed automobile crash and their injuries were caused by ignition switch defect. Plaintiffs’ claims were part of class action lawsuit filed against General Motors. Summary judgment granted in favor of General Motors. Summary Judgment order issued October 2019.
• Phillips v. Daimler Chrysler Corporation. Rollover roof crush case in San Bernardino County, involving a 36 year old advertising executive who was rendered quadriplegic during a rollover of her Jeep Grand Cherokee. Plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury for one hundred million dollars. Mr. Lonnie served as second chair counsel in this hard fought product liability trial, which included a full week of evidentiary hearings. The jury returned a defense verdict after a 2 1/2 month trial.
• Vaea v. General Motors. Wrongful death case involving the rollover of a Pontiac APV minivan. The Vaea family claimed defects existed in a tire and axle/spindle, resulting in the rollover and partial ejection of the decedent. The defense established the axle/spindle and wheel were damaged as a result of the rollover, and that the decedent was not belted. The Jury returned a defense verdict.
• Trotta & Bang v. General Motors. This case involved a claim of throttle and brake defects. The plaintiff claimed her Cadillac Deville accelerated out of control during a funeral procession. She also claimed a defective seat belt allowed her to be ejected from the vehicle. Dommond served as second chair trial counsel. The defendants obtained a non-suit judgment.
• Templeton v. Kia. Rollover case at highway speed where plaintiff claimed traumatic brain injury. Favorable settlement reached on first day of trial.
• Parra v. GM. Defective fuel tank placement and crashworthiness case where plaintiff suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns over 55% of his body (and left leg amputation) following a high speed rear impact into his 1991 Chevy Blazer. Favorable settlement.
• Huq v. GM. Seatbelt design case where plaintiff alleged defect caused her chance fracture. Favorable settlement.
• Morgan v. GM. Handling/stability, seatbelt, airbag, roof structure case where plaintiff claimed he was rendered a paraplegic after his 2014 Chevrolet Silverado left the highway and rolled over multiple times. Favorable settlement.
• Jennings v. GM. Occupation classification system case where plaintiff claimed defects in a 2004 Chevy Silverado caused him to suffer severe traumatic brain damage following multiple crashes into freeway barriers. Favorable settlement.

Bar Admissions

California, 1989

Education
University of California, Los Angeles, J.D. University of California, Los Angeles, B.A.

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association
• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• California State Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute

Southern California Defense Counsel, Langston Bar Association

• Additional Duties on Imported Vehicles and Parts May Result From New Investigation: Comment and Hearing Dates Imminent

  By Dommond Lonnie |May 2018