Greene, Broillet, Taylor, Wheeler and Panish, LLP Issues Statement
26 October 2000
Greene, Broillet, Taylor, Wheeler and Panish, LLP Issues Statement
LOS ANGELES--Oct. 26, 2000--The following is a statement by Greene, Broillet, Taylor, Wheeler and Panish, LLP:
Publicity Pushes Goodyear to Go to NHTSA
Exposure of Large Vehicle Tire Tread Separation and
Mounting Death Toll Forces Action
Facing a potential public relations disaster of Firestone proportions, Goodyear Rubber & Tire Co., has, for the first time, decided to notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning the incidents of tire tread separation on its light truck tires, according to a Wall Street Journal article report today.
"This represents a slight loosening of the manufacturer's information stranglehold involving tread separation-induced rollover accidents of large SUVs and school and passenger vans. After public disclosure by the Los Angeles Times yesterday, Goodyear has now admitted that, since 1994, at least 15 deaths and 120 serious injuries, including amputation and paraplegia, have been linked to the malfunction of the light truck tires," said attorney Christine Spagnoli, of Green, Broillet, Taylor, Wheeler and Panish, LLP of Santa Monica, Calif. Spagnoli is representing several plaintiffs suing Goodyear.
"Goodyear's willingness to 'touch base' with the NHTSA, is a very small step but in the right direction... the direction of increasing public safety," added Spagnoli.
The company has yet to reveal the scope or specifics of its submission to the government agency. This latest move contrasts the manufacturer's long-held insistence on gag orders and secrecy agreements concerning accident and safety reports on the tires.
Yesterday's nationwide media coverage highlighted the tire's threat to public safety. The heaviness of the vehicles -- which include GMC Suburbans and Ford vans -- and large number of passengers carried magnify the gravity of danger during rollover accidents.