Mich. Court Revives Scared-To-Death Case

DEARBORN (AP) - Was an 85-year-old driver literally scared to death?

The Michigan appeals court has revived a lawsuit related to the death of Adbulla Kassem, whose car slammed into the rear of a truck in Dearborn in 2008.

There was no autopsy, but a doctor hired by Kassem's estate believes he may have died of a heart attack caused by a fear of the upcoming crash.

Wayne County Judge Kathleen MacDonald threw out Dr. Werner Spitz' opinion as speculation and dismissed the lawsuit against a trucking company, Efficient Hauling Services. But the appeals court last week said the testimony is admissible.

Kassem's estate claims the crash occurred because a truck bumper in the wrong position blocked tail lights.

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