Judge to rule on Ford-Firestone class action by year´s end

INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 19)—A federal judge in Indianapolis said she will rule by the end of the year on whether to certify a class action on behalf of millions of Americans who potentially have non-injury claims against Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. and Ford Motor Co. Judge Sarah Evans Barker heard arguments from both sides of the case Nov. 16. Plaintiffs' attorneys claim Ford and Firestone colluded to violate consumer protection laws when they placed now-recalled Firestone ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires on Ford Explorers. The companies claim such a class action will force them to compensate people who had no problems with their tires or vehicles. The class action would not include 500 personal injury and wrongful death cases connected with alleged tread separations and vehicle rollovers.