Federal court sends Steeltex case back to state system

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 13)—A U.S. District Court judge in Los Angeles has remanded a national class action lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. and Bridgestone Corp. to the California state court system. The court rejected a motion by BFS to have the case heard in federal court. BFS said that while it disagrees with Judge Christina A. Snyder´s decision, it is prepared to defend itself in the state court system and will pursue its motion to have the case dismissed. BFS had sought to move the trial to federal court, where it had petitioned the judge to have Bridgestone Corp. dropped from the suit, and to have the case dismissed. The suit was brought originally by Pasadena, Calif.-based Lisoni & Lisoni on Aug. 13, charging that the Steeltex tire series is defective and prone to tread separations that allegedly have resulted in thousands of accidents causing deaths, injuries and property damage.