Lawyers Prepare for Bridgestone Tire Battle
Friday, September 15th, 2000 Litigation SubrogationCharging that Bridgestone/Firestone has not moved quickly enough in recalling defective tires produced by the company, plaintiffs‘ lawyers around the country have already begun filing class action law suits. "The company is doing the right thing now by getting the tires out of inventory and recalling them," said Loretta Worters, vice president, communications, for the Insurance Information Institute. "The company has a duty to prevent further loss." Insurers are somewhat removed from the issue, according to Worters, who explained that Bridgestone/Firestone is self-insured and has a Bermuda captive. Although she expected to see suits filed against Bridgestone, Firestone‘s parent company based in Japan, the plaintiffs would need to prove that the tire was actually defective and it was that defect that caused the loss, she said.
