Cooper, attorneys defend settlement on eve of hearing

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Jan. 28)—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.'s proposed settlement of 32 consumer class-action lawsuits is "truly historic," according to Cooper and the plaintiffs' attorneys who negotiated the settlement. Cooper noted that the dozen or so objectors to the settlement—including the Ocala, Fla., law firm of Green, Kaster & Falvey and consumer group Public Citizen—"proffer expert testimony that Cooper's failure rate is 'dramatically' lower than one quarter of one percent," while attorneys Allan Kanner and John Keefe said the settlement "reflects a real and immediate warranty benefit covering all 170 million tires of class members, as well as new tires for the next five years." Judge Marina Corodemus of the New Jersey Superior Court will hold a hearing Jan. 29 on the final acceptance of the settlement agreement.