Lisoni & Lisoni Announces Class Action Lawsuit Against Firestone for Defects in Its Steeltex Tire Series; Recall Demanded

    PASADENA, Calif.--Aug. 13, 2002--Citing a lamination defect which represents a major safety hazard to millions of Americans driving on Firestone's Steeltex tire series, a national class action lawsuit was filed today in California Superior Court against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Bridgestone Corporation, Inc. Filed on behalf of Roger R. Littell in Riverside, CA, the lawsuit alleges Fraudulent Concealment, Deceptive Practices in Violation of the CLRA, Violations of the Unfair Practices Act, Negligence and Strict Liability and seeks general, specific and punitive damages.
    At a news conference held this morning at an auto body shop in Pasadena, CA, attorneys for the plaintiffs also announced that a warning notice is being mailed to government officials and over 1,300 Firestone dealers throughout the United States demanding an immediate recall of Steeltex R4S, R4SII and A/T tires which have been sold of the more than 27.5 million manufactured. The lawsuit contends that all tires in the series contain a lamination defect which can -- and has -- caused the entire tread on the tire to separate in a matter of seconds leading to the tire's total destruction.
    According to Joseph Lisoni of the Pasadena law firm of Lisoni & Lisoni, which filed the lawsuit in conjunction with The Law Offices of Steven E. Weinberger, an inquiry was recently sent out by the law firms to consumers nationwide who have bought the Steeltex tires. He noted that letters are pouring in from across the country with reports of catastrophic accidents resulting from blowouts and accidents tracing to tread separations. These people and others being contacted will be represented by the lawsuit, he said. Lisoni announced a website had been set up (www.firestonesteeltexclassaction.com) which will enable consumers to report defects to them or directly to the Department of Transportation.
    Lisoni pointed out that his firm recently handled another major lawsuit against Firestone relating to an accident caused by a blowout of a Steeltex tire that resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. The lawsuit was settled with Firestone. The news conference was held in front of the damaged van in that litigation. Commenting on the current lawsuit, he stressed:
    "This litigation is not about money, it's about responsibility. Without question, millions of people are currently at risk who are riding the roads on Steeltex tires. It's time that Firestone gets the message and recalls these tires in the interests of public health and safety. Americans demand corporate accountability at this time -- and Firestone must take this opportunity to `step up to the plate' and show some."
    Littell, who resides in Cathedral City, CA, was selected as the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, Lisoni said, not only because he has had four Steeltex tires on his 1999 Ford Motorhome disintegrate, but because Littell has spent his life in the automotive racing industry and is knowledgeable about tires. Littell, who also was involved in the road testing of Firestone tires between 1955 and 1974, remarked:
    "During one of the tire failures, my racing background certainly helped. If not for my experience behind the wheel, I would have rolled the vehicle and probably have been killed or severely injured. Firestone has a serious problem and they know it because they monitor the performance of their tires very closely. They need to take care of this problem immediately or more people will die or be maimed from tire failures."
    Also speaking at the news conference was William O. Hagerty, a private investigator who is considered one of the nation's leading experts in tire failure analysis. A current automobile racing team owner and driver as well as former tire store owner, he has served plaintiffs or insurance companies in over 1,300 product defect investigations. After analyzing several damaged Steeltex tires, Hagerty stated:
    "In the vast majority of my investigations, the problems were not caused by manufacturing defects. However, clearly, the Steeltex series is a classic example of a defective product. These tires are failing much in the same way and manner as Firestone's Wilderness series. Firestone needs to take a very close look at the hundreds and hundreds of failure reports and then do the right thing; recall all their Steeltex tires."