Lisoni & Lisoni Announces California Court Hearing on March 17 to Determine if Firestone Steeltex Tire Lawsuit is Certified as National Class Action
--| A defining moment in the 18-month old class action lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. (aka Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC) for alleged defects in its Steeltex tire series will take place on March 17 in the Riverside Branch of the California Superior Court when a hearing will be held to determine if the lawsuit will be certified as a national class action lawsuit. Should the certification be granted, the lawsuit would represent all complainants nationally who have experienced massive tread separations in Steeltex R4S, R4SII and A/T tires making it possibly the largest class action lawsuit in the history of the United States. The hearing comes: |
-- Six weeks (January 29) after Plaintiffs' legal counsel (Lisoni & Lisoni) granted a request from Bridgestone Corporation, Inc. of Japan, a co-defendant in the lawsuit, to be temporarily exempted from the lawsuit, pending completion of litigation against its own wholly-owned American subsidiary, Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC.
-- Three weeks (February 26) after Bridgestone/Firestone announced a partial recall of 490,000 Steeltex tires. The tires were manufactured at its plant in Joliette, Quebec, Canada and have been linked to six accidents which have allegedly caused five deaths and 20 injuries.
It is estimated that there are over 30 million Steeltex tires on the nation's roads and highways. The lawsuit alleges that defects in the design of the Steeltex tires have led to massive tread separations and resulted in accidents, injuries and deaths. In addition to individuals, operators of ambulances and emergency vehicles in 33 states have reported severe Steeltex tire failures.
WHAT: Hearing on a motion by Plaintiffs' Legal Counsel in the Firestone Steeltex tire class action lawsuit to have the court certify that the lawsuit is national in scope and represents all claimants throughout the United States.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 17, 2004, 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Riverside Branch of California Supreme Court (Department 2H) 46-200 Oasis Street, Indio
WHO: Lisoni & Lisoni -- Law firm representing Plaintiffs in class action lawsuit. Holland & Knight -- Law firm representing Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
LAWSUIT WEBSITE: Updated information on the class action lawsuit can be obtained by viewing the lawsuit's website at: www.firestonesteeltexclassaction.com.