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Ford, Firestone Suits Get
Class-Action Status

CHICAGO, Nov. 28, 2001 -- A federal judge has granted class-action status to product liability suits against Ford and Firestone, allowing millions of consumers to claim damages for faulty tires and vehicle design, even those who were not injured as a result of the alleged defects.

Judge Sarah Evans Barker ruled that anyone who owned or leased a 1991-2001 Ford Explorer prior to Aug. 9, 2000, could join the legal action, regardless of what kind of tires their vehicle had.

In addition, she ruled that anyone whose vehicle was equipped with Firesetone ATX, ATX II, Firehawk ATX, ATX 23 Degree, Widetrack Radial Baja and Wilderness tires anytime from 1990 to the present could join the action. The ruling also applies to those who bought the same tires under different brand names.

The action consolidates all of the lawsuits that do not involve personal injuries in vehicle accidents. It would potentially cover consumers who were not compensated for replacing Firestone tires as well those who contend their vehicle lost resale value. It could also cover warranty claims.

Ford and Firestone both said they would appeal. Both companies have spent millions of dollars replacing tires and already face hundreds of lawsuits growign out of accidents allegedly caused by faulty tires and vehicle design. Those cases are not affected by Barker's ruling.

Federal regulators have blamed at least 271 deaths and more than 800 injuries on accidents involving Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone tires.

Ford denounced the ruling. "This remains a classic 'no injury' accident brought by attorneys for people who have not had a tire-related failure," Ford said in a statement.

Attorney Tab Turner, who argued the case for class action certification, said he looks forward to confronting Ford and Firestone in court.

"These are bad products and consumers everywhere need to know just how bad they are," Turner told the Reuters news agency after the ruling.

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