Bridgestone tires face criminal investigation - Ford Forums

Stacy94PGT · 02-27-2003, 08:45

Thursday, February 27, 2003

U.S. attorney seeks data from lawyers suing tiremaker
By Lawrence Viele / Bloomberg News

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- The U.S. government is conducting a criminal investigation related to Bridgestone Corp. tires that are linked to deaths and injuries involving Ford Explorers, according to prosecution papers.

Miriam F. Miquelon, a U.S. attorney in Illinois, subpoenaed documents from lawyers suing Bridgestone, the world's second-largest tiremaker, and Ford Motor Co. on behalf of alleged victims, the papers show.

The records demanded by a federal grand jury include sworn statements by John Lampe, chief executive of Bridgestone's U.S. unit, Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc.

The inquiry follows an allegation by congressional investigators that the Japanese tire company and Ford, the world's second-largest automaker, misled U.S. officials about their products' safety. The investigation may produce evidence bolstering personal-injury suits against Bridgestone and Ford, which used Bridgestone's Firestone tires on Explorer sport-utility vehicles.

The prosecution papers don't identify the target of the criminal investigation. A letter from Miquelon to lawyers in the civil suits says the documents she is demanding are "pursuant to an official criminal investigation of a suspected federal offense."

U.S. safety officials say flaws in Firestone tires contributed to 271 highway deaths and more than 700 injuries. After a recall of Firestone tires began in 2000, President Bill Clinton signed a law that makes it a crime to withhold tire-safety data.

"We haven't been contacted yet and know nothing about this," Bridgestone spokesman Dan MacDonald said.

Ford spokeswoman Kathleen Vokes declined to comment, while Miquelon declined to confirm or deny the grand jury investigation.

Stacy94PGT · 02-27-2003, 22:21

Criminal indictments possible in fatal crashes
February 28, 2003
BY SUSAN SKILES LUKE
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. and Ford Motor Co. are being investigated by a federal grand jury that could hand up the first criminal indictments against the companies for fatal vehicle wrecks blamed on faulty tires.

U.S. Attorney Miriam Miquelon of Illinois' Southern District has issued a subpoena seeking documents from attorneys handling hundreds of civil lawsuits against the tire company and the automaker.

The Associated Press on Thursday obtained a copy of the subpoena, which was dated Feb. 19 -- the same day a former Bridgestone/Firestone assembly line worker testified before a federal grand jury in Miquelon's district.

Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone/Firestone, the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Bridgestone Corp., has recalled millions of ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires since August 2000 because federal safety officials found they were prone to losing their tread while traveling at high speeds.

At least 271 U.S. traffic deaths have been linked to the failed tires, most of which were sold as original equipment on the Ford Explorer, federal officials said.

Miquelon's subpoena demanded information including sworn statements Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford officials made in lawsuits in connection with the tires.

A letter accompanying the subpoena said the documents were sought "pursuant to an official criminal investigation of a suspected federal offense being conducted by the federal grand jury," but did not specify any possible charges.

Grand jury investigations do not necessarily result in criminal charges and often are kept secret.

A spokesman for Miquelon's office did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment Thursday.

Spokespeople for Ford and Bridgestone said their companies had not been approached by Miquelon's office, but said they have cooperated in past federal and state investigations and would continue to do so.

Alan Hogan, who worked on a Bridgestone/Firestone assembly line in Wilson, N.C., from 1991 to 1997, told the grand jury his employers forced him and his co-workers to make tires with steel belts that had lost their adhesion with age, said his attorney Rowe Brogdon of Statesboro, Ga.

Hogan, who has testified in civil proceedings, said the workers were told to add an adhesive material between the belts to help them stick together, Brogdon said. The tires were of models that later were recalled, the attorney said.