Thomas Dupree and Jim Butler

In the contentious litigation over a fatal Jeep gas tank explosion, oral arguments on Chrysler's appeal of the $150 million verdict—reduced to $40 million by the trial judge—have been set for a special session of the Georgia Supreme Court to be held at the University of Georgia School of Law.

Arguments are to be heard in the law school's Hatton Lovejoy Courtroom on the historic N orth Campus, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 24.

The case has already yielded more than a dozen amicus briefs—some neutral and others in support of one side. Several came from business groups seeking to hold down the award, viewing the case as a test for the new court, which expanded from six to nine members at the start of this year.