Calif. judge rules that class action against BFS should proceed

INDIO, Calif. (April 28)—A judge for the Superior Court of Indio has ruled that a class action seeking the recall of 27.5 million Firestone Steeltex tires should proceed in his court. Judge Christopher Sheldon's ruling marked a setback for Bridgestone/Firestone, which argued that a state court is an inappropriate venue for a class action whose main goal is a product recall. The next hearing in Sheldon's court will be May 30, to consider class action issues, a BFS spokesman said. Joseph Lisoni, the main attorney in the class action, plans a Washington news conference May 5 to discuss issues surrounding Steeltex tires.