PRODUCT LIABILITY
Defective Firestone Tire/Ford Explorer

SETTLEMENT:	Confidential
CASE/NO:	Zuzow v. Ford Motor Company, Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., Galpin Motors, Inc.
COURT:	Los Angeles Superior Court
JUDGE:	Honorable Anthony J. Mohr
ATTORNEYS:	Plaintiffs: Michael H. Whitehill, Tracy K. Smith (KUSSMAN & WHITEHILL, Los Angeles) Defendants: Robert Gibson, Daniel Rodman, Elizabeth McNulty SNELL & WILMER Attorneys for Ford Motor Company & Galpin Motors, Inc. Arnold Larson IVERSON, YOAKUM, PAPIANO & HATCH Attorneys for Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. Patrick Becherer Becherer, Kannett & Schwetzer Attorneys/Liaison counsel for Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. Derrick Coleman, O'Melveny & Myers Attorneys/Liaison counsel for Ford Motor Company

FACTS: This case concerned the defective Firestone ATX tires which were subject to a world-wide recall. Also at the heart of the case was the defective and unstable 1996 Ford Explorer. On April 12, 2000, the right rear tire detreaded as the Zuzow family drove home to Los Angeles from a family vacation on I-15 near Barstow. As a result of the detread and the instability of the Zuzow's Ford Explorer, the vehicle rolled on the road several times across the number two lane and down an embankment coming to rest against barbed wire fencing. David Zuzow, the front seat passenger perished instantly. Driver Sonia Zuzow, wife of David Zuzow, suffered severe and permanent injuries including a fractured dislocation of the elbow, degloving injury to left forearm, posterior rib fractures of ribs 3 through 5, fluid in the pelvis, bilateral pnuemothorax, right medial ankle laceration and multiple contusions and abrasions. In addition, she suffered emotional trauma from witnessing the death of her husband and her mother, Anna Pauletto, who also died at the scene. Graziano Trevisan, Sonia Zuzow's brother suffered neck and head injuries including, a permanent injury to his optic nerve.

This case was originally filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The California cases involving a Firestone tire and Ford Explorer were coordinated and transferred to the long cause court, Central Civil West in front of Honorable Anthony J. Mohr. The top seven of the over two hundred cases were selected to begin trial in this coordinated litigation. The Zuzow case was selected as one of the top seven cases. Mediation was held in front of Honorable Enrique Romero. The case settled with Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. Several weeks before the scheduled trial date, Ford settled with plaintiffs.