Ford to Face Foreign Cases

Ford Motor Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding Inc. must defend themselves in U.S. courts against as many as 140 suits brought on behalf of foreign victims of rollover accidents, a federal judge ruled.

U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker’s ruling in Indianapolis means Ford and Bridgestone face potentially millions of dollars in damages if they settle or lose the foreign cases, plaintiffs’ lawyers said.

The suits stem from the 2000 recall of 6.5 million Firestone tires made for the Ford Explorer. The tires are linked to 271 deaths by federal officials.