Bridgestone Agrees to Settle Class-Action Suits

Bridgestone Inc.’s Firestone unit said it has agreed to settle class-action lawsuits in several states brought on behalf of owners of its recalled Wilderness AT and ATX tires.

The motorists’ lawyers would get as much as $19 million, and vehicle owners would get a free tire rotation or discounts on an alignment or new tires, according to a copy of the settlement. Firestone also would pay $7.8 million for a consumer awareness program. The agreement wouldn’t resolve personal injury claims.

The agreement would be subject to approval by a state court judge in Beaumont, Texas.

The U.S. unit of Japan’s biggest tire maker recalled 10 million of the tires starting in August 2000 after government highway safety officials linked them to as many as 271 deaths, most involving Ford Motor Co.’s Explorers.

From Bloomberg News