Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC (BFNT) has agreed to settle a Texas class action lawsuit stemming from its Wilderness AT and ATX recall.
BFNT won a federal case last year that denied class action status to plaintiffs seeking compensation for perceived damage to their vehicles' values simply because they were shod with the tires.
However, plaintiffs in individual states are now suing the company, according to a BFNT spokesman -- despite the fact that most of them received free tire replacements during the recall, and no injuries, fatalities or even property damage were linked to the tires in said cases.
Lawyers in 13 states have filed class action suits so far, he says.
BFNT opted to settle out of court rather than engage in lengthy legal proceedings in the Texas case.
"It's another important step in putting this matter behind us," says the company spokesman.
