Seeking DU help from anyone who has seen "The Corporation"

[We People]

I don't have a copy of the video, but I saw it when it first came out. Seems that there was a story included in it about a trend beginning in the 1990s w/corporations anticipating lawsuits instead of correcting problems. I know for a fact there was a case publicized via "60 Minutes" or similar program. I think it was a flaw in design or construction of a model of vehicle (possible GMC truck, IIRC), resulting in the fiery death of a family member. Don't remember if the litigation attempt was successful or not, but the end result was a corporate decision to expect a certain amount of death or injury to result in use of the product. I've been unsuccessful so far in conducting research via search engine, possibly because I'm using the wrong key words.

I'm thinking there may be a video out there that explains it, or an original video from that TV show that exists which tells the story. I know that it was a powerful indictment on the corporate mentality about profits over human life.

If I can find a video (preferably) or an article that communicates this type of corporate immorality and connect it to the creeping Corporate takeover of the U.S. (and the world) and how this election is crucial to stopping it, it will be worthwhile to have found it.

Thanks in advance to anyone able to read and respond!

[Hestia]

1. Are you on Netflix? They have the DVD there, not sure if you can stream though.

There were several vehicles like you are talking about - the Pinto and Corvair come to mind. I love Corvair's - cool cars but a friend of my dad's was almost killed in a wreck in that car. I'll never forget it when it was brought to the house and dumped in the driveway. Gosh - how he lived through that wreck is a miracle.

Seem's there is a truck that was like this too. Early F150? Early GMC truck?

That's all that comes to mind at the moment.

[We People]

2. Thanks - I think it was a GMC truck

and I actually remember watching the original TV expose.

Thanks for the Netflix suggestion. I'll also check out you tube.

[Lucy Goosey]

3. Are you thinking of the Ford Pinto?

Ford was famously revealed to have waited years before recalling the Pinto based on their cost-benefit analyses, which indicated it would cost them less to cover payouts for the expected number of deaths than it would cost to recall the cars. I've worked on limitation of liability issues in government contracts, and the lawyers I work with bring up the Pinto case fairly often.

More here:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/1977/09/pinto-madness?page=1

The court case was Grimshaw v. Ford:
http://online.ceb.com/calcases/CA3/119CA3d757.htm

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto


I haven't seen The Corporation, so I have no idea if this is helpful, but your post made me think of the Pinto.

[theKed]

4. This may be along the lines of what you're looking for

Though it's not from The Corporation ... it's from Fight Club (in it's defense, it's probably about as sensationalised as the Corporation)

"A*B*C=X ... If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one."

[We People]

5. Thanks to all

Whether this was included in "The Corporation" or not, I got something from all your suggestions. I couldn't remember how the case was framed, but was looking for the component of cost analysis on payouts vs. recall of product.

Hoping to remind people of the immorality of so many corporations - and why loyalty to them these days is moot, since so many of them are moved offshore and are not really "American" any more.