TORRANCE -- A Superior Court jury has ruled that McDonnell Douglas made fraudulent claims about its DC- 10 jetliners before a fiery 1978 crash at Los Angeles International Airport, and awarded Continental Airlines $32 million.

At the end of a four-month trial, the jury ruled the Long Beach aircraft manufacturer practiced "fraud and deceit" by claiming wing fuel tanks on the jet would not rupture if the landing gear was torn off.

Four people were killed and 70 were injured In the crash of a Continental DC 10. The Honolulu-bound jet apparently blew two tires during a takeoff in the rain, then tipped onto a wing. A fuel tank broke open.