S. Carolina files suit against Bridgestone/Firestone

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Aug. 15)—Angered by his state being placed in the bottom tier of Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.´s phased 6.5 million tire recall, South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon has filed suit against the company in the Richland County Court of Common Pleas. Bridgestone/Firestone "had knowledge that those tires (the ATX, ATX II and Wilderness) were prone to failure under normal use, especially when used in climates such as South Carolina´s, where the summers are hot." Condon seeks an injunction forcing Bridgestone/Firestone to replace all ATX, ATX II and Wilderness tires in South Carolina immediately, and for the company to pay up to $5,000 for each violation. This could means tens of millions of dollars in liability for the company, the attorney general´s office said, since the lawsuit treats every one of those tires sold in the state as a violation of state law.