ADVISORY/Hearing to Dismiss National Class Action Lawsuit Against Firestone for Steeltex Tires to be Held in Federal Court, Jan. 6

    LOS ANGELES--Jan. 2, 2003--A hearing on a motion from attorneys for Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Bridgestone Corporation, Inc. to dismiss a national class action lawsuit filed against them on August 13, 2002 will be held on Monday, January 6, in the Western Division, Central District of California of the United States District Court. The hearing will be conducted in the courtroom of Judge Christina A. Snyder.
    The lawsuit, originally filed in California Superior Court but elevated to the Federal Court, charges that the Firestone Steeltex tire series (models R4S, R4SII and A/T) is defective, and catastrophic tire tread separations have allegedly resulted in thousands of accidents resulting in deaths, injuries and property damage throughout the United States. In the lawsuit, Bridgestone/Firestone and Bridgestone Corporation are charged with Fraudulent Concealment, Deceptive Practices, Violation of Unfair Practices Act, Strict Liability, Negligence and Breach of Warranty.
    Concurrent with the lawsuit, the Pasadena, CA law firm of Lisoni & Lisoni filed a Petition on November 15 with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to request it reopen its investigation of the Firestone Steeltex tire series which it suspended on April 9, 2002. To support the Petition, Lisoni & Lisoni provided the NHTSA on November 15 with documentation and evidence of alleged Steeltex tire defects which it has collected during its own 90 day nationwide investigation. Subsequently, the NHTSA has requested additional information and evidence from Lisoni & Lisoni as part of its consideration of its Petition.

Details of the Federal Court hearing are as follows:

WHEN:   Monday, January 6, at 10 a.m.

WHERE:  Courtroom 5 (Judge Christina A. Snyder)
        United States District Court, Central District, 
         Western Division
        312 N. Spring Street
        Los Angeles

WHO:    Joseph L. Lisoni of Lisoni & Lisoni, lead attorney for the
        national class class action lawsuit, will be present and
        available to answer questions after the hearing.

INFORMATION CONTACT:

        For additional information or advance arrangements, contact
        Bob Fisher or Chris Foster of Fisher & Associates at
        818/346-1750 or by e-mail at pr4biz@FisherPR.com.