1st Bridgestone/Firestone Defect Trial Set to Begin

With settlement still a possibility, the first tire-defect lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone to go to trial was set to begin today in a South Texas courtroom.

U.S. District Judge Filemon Vela expects the case, which will begin with opening statements in the federal district court in McAllen, to last two weeks.

As late as the weekend, however, a settlement remained a possibility.

In March 2000, Joel Rodriguez, his wife, Marisa, and two family members were traveling in Mexico when a tire on their 1998 Ford Explorer blew out and their vehicle rolled. All four were injured; Marisa, 39, will have to use a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

The family also sued Ford Motor and has settled for an undisclosed sum.

Tires manufactured by Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone have been linked to 203 U.S. traffic deaths and more than 700 injuries. On Aug. 9, 2000, Firestone recalled 6.5 million tires, many of which came on Ford vehicles.

Bridgestone broadcast its defense strategy last week, saying its lawyers planned to show that the Ford Explorer is more at fault than the Firestone tires.

Firestone has settled more than 150 cases out of court for undisclosed sums.