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Nationwide Lawsuit Filed Against Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford

28 August 2000

First Nationwide Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford for Injuries and Deaths Caused by Defective Tires

    CHICAGO--Aug. 28, 2000--Kenneth B. Moll & Associates, Ltd. filed the first nationwide class action lawsuit on behalf of all persons that suffered personal injuries, death and other injuries as a result of ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires designed, manufactured, sold, and distributed by Defendants.
    According to the complaint, these tires have demonstrated that they are unreasonably dangerous due to an increased risk of tread separation, and have caused numerous injuries and fatalities.
    The lawsuit, known as the "BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE and FORD Class Action," was filed Monday, August 28, 2000, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
    Over 1,000 individuals have filed complaints with the National Highway Transportation Authority regarding tread separation and other tire failure associated with these tires. The statistics include over 62 fatalities and hundreds of reported injuries.
    As early as fall of 1999, Defendant, Ford Motor Company, began a recall of Bridgestone/Firestone Tires on exported sport-utility vehicles in foreign countries. Although Americans were making similar complaints about their tires to Bridgestone/Firestone, a recall of certain model and size tires was not issued in America until August 9, 2000.
    On August 9, 2000, BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE and FORD, announced a voluntary phased recall of all P235/75R15 Radial ATX and Radial ATX II tires and only certain Wilderness AT tires which were manufactured at Firestone's Decatur, Illinois manufacturing plant.
    Attorney Kenneth Moll said, "The primary goals of the BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE and FORD Class Action are to (1) encourage BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE and FORD to issue a fully inclusive recall of all defective tires in the United States as it did last year in foreign countries, including (a) Wilderness AT tires manufactured in all 7 North American plants, including the Decatur, Illinois plant and (b) all ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT 16 inch tires; (2) ensure a speedy and fully reimbursed exchange of all defective Wilderness AT, ATX, and ATX II tires; and (3) compensate all persons who suffered personal injury or death as the result of the defective design and manufacture of the tires."