Firestone Tire Class Action Settled
March 16, 2003 A Texas state court judge has approved a $149-million settlement involving 30 class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of Firestone tire owners. The settlement could affect an estimated 15 million drivers and involve about 60 million tires.
State District Judge Donald Floyd's acceptance of the settlement closes another chapter in the 2000 recall of 14.4 million Firestone tires following fatal rollovers by Ford Explorers and other vehicles. ( See: Ford Explorer Rollover )
The lawsuits include those filed by Firestone ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT customers whose tires were among those investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2000. The Firestone tire tread separation problem caused Bridgestone Firestone to recall millions of the Firestone tires due to tire tread separation, detreading tires and delamination problems which was blamed for numerous wrecks, accidents and rollovers.
Firestone will pay about $70 million to replace tires, $41 million to upgrade materials in some tires, $15.5 million on a consumer education and awareness campaign and $19 million for lawyers fees. The company also has paid $3.5 million to notify class members of the settlement plan.
The 45 individual plaintiffs named in the suits could each receive up to $2,500. Those who are not named but who owned one of 22 brands of Bridgestone/Firestone tires between 1991 and 2001 qualify to have their tires replaced.
If you have been involved in a Tire de)tread and/or Rollover Accident contact a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Call Toll Free 1-800-883-9858 for a Free Case Consultation
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