BMW Can’t Shed $2 Million Verdict Over Thumb Severed by Car Door

BMW of North America LLC failed to convince a federal appeals court to overturn a nearly $2 million jury verdict on behalf of a man whose 2013 BMW X5 door’s “soft close” feature amputated part of his thumb.

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s judgment in an unpublished decision Monday, upholding the $1.9 million in damages the jury awarded to Godwin Boateng after a one-week trial.

• Boateng sued the company over the “soft close” feature, which automatically closes a car door when the door is about six millimeters from being closed so people ...