ATTORNEY WILLIE GARY Attorney Willie Gary. [KI] STUART, FL USA 06/09/2000

    STUART, Fla., June 15 B Willie Gary, internationally
recognized trial lawyer, will hold a press briefing June 18, 2001 at
11:00 a.m. in the first floor conference room of the Martin County Circuit
Court, Stuart, Florida.  The press conference will announce a $1 billion
punitive damages suit charging Bridgestone/Firestone with product liability in
the wrongful death of Edelio and Norma Herrera of Fort Lauderdale Florida.
The suit is one of the largest punitive damages lawsuits against the world's
leading tire and rubber company.
    (Photo:  NewsCom:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000609/FLF004 )
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010615/FLF006-a )
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010615/FLF006-b )
    The tragic accident took place on Sunday May 30, 2000, while the Herrera
family traveled southbound on the Florida Turnpike in Martin County from
Disney World.  The right rear tire of the Herrera's 1997 Ford Explorer began
separating at the tread, causing the Ford Explorer to violently overturn.
Edelio, the driver and his wife Norma, the front seat passenger, were thrown
from the vehicle sustaining fatal injuries.  Located in the rear of the Ford
Explorer was their adult son, Evelio, his wife Milagros, and their one-year-
old son Antonio.  The surviving accident victims suffered both long-term
physical and psychological damages, including acute brain damage and severe
depression.
    As early as 1992, Firestone began receiving tire separation complaints.
Reports indicate that Firestone ignored employees who complained of quality
control problems and questionable production practices.  Firestone dismissed
the claims, as coming from disgruntled former employees.  Joe Roundtree, a
former plant employee who retired in 1996, disputed the company's claim that
he is disgruntled in a sworn deposition in August of last year.  "I would like
to think I could keep someone else from getting hurt," he said.
    "Since the problems came to a head in August last year, Firestone has
continuously played the blame game, putting profits before people," stated
Attorney Gary.  "One thing is for certain, Firestone and Ford both knew a
problem existed long before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
became involved."
    Mr. Gary notes, "As Firestone played the blame game, the American public
paid the highest price in a game of corporate greed and negligence.
    The complaint alleges that Bridgestone Firestone negligently and
carelessly manufactured the Wilderness Tire and that Firestone failed to warn
the consuming public of the inherent dangers in its design and construction.
Furthermore, Firestone failed to provide adequate warnings of the propensity
and/or danger of tread separation.  It also addresses Firestone's failure to
recall the Wilderness Tire even after it became aware of its defects.

    Mr. Gary, Senior Partner with the Law Offices of Gary, Williams, Parenti,
Finney, Lewis, McManus, Watson & Sperando is known as the "Giant Killer,"
winning multimillion-dollar verdicts against major corporations over the past
25 years.  Cases of note include a copyright infringement suit against Disney
in 2000, for $240 million, and a half a billion-dollar judgment against the
Loewen Group in 1995.  Joining Mr. Gary, is his son, Attorney Sekou Gary,
Attorney and Partner Donald Watson, and Co-Counsel, Attorney Chan Abney.
Currently, Mr. Gary is representing the estate of baseball legend Roger Maris
in a multibillion-dollar case against Anheuser Busch.

                    MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here
               http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X28398602