First Firestone-Ford lawsuit filed in Hawaii

HONOLULU (Sept. 13)—A Honolulu couple became the first to file a lawsuit in Hawaii in the ongoing litigation involving Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone tires. Michael Vitolo and Tammy Wilson claimed a rear tire on their Explorer failed July 31. They avoided colliding with other cars but still suffered back, head, neck and hand injuries, they claim in their suit. They also claimed the dealer, Honolulu Ford, had them on a two- to three-month waiting list for replacement tires at the time the accident occurred. A spokeswoman for Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. said her company had only read news reports about the filing. There usually is a delay in defendants being served papers in personal injury suits, she said, and the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon may have caused a further delay.