Michelin church van trial to begin in Texas

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Oct. 21)—Jury selection began today in the District Court of Wichita County, 78th Judicial District, in a case against Michelin North America Inc. and DaimlerChrysler Corp. involving the rollover of a 15-passenger church van. Twelve women from the First Assembly Church of God in Burkburnett, Texas, were riding in the Dodge Ram van near Wichita Falls when a Michelin XCH4 tire on the van allegedly lost its tread. The lawsuit states this caused the vehicle to roll over, killing four of the women and disabling the other eight. Public Citizen and the Center for Auto Safety filed a brief Oct. 18, opposing Michelin's motion to seal certain court documents and also the courtroom while those documents were discussed. A Michelin spokeswoman said the tire maker was merely trying to protect proprietary information requested by plaintiffs' counsel.