NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 26, 2000)—Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. said it is "pleased" by the decision of a panel of federal judges to consolidate 53 lawsuits against BFS and Ford Motor Co. under the direction of Sarah Evans Barker, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
A BFS spokeswoman said the multi-district litigation is "the most efficient way" to proceed with the cases involving Firestone original equipment tires on Ford Explorers, and "will help to streamline the entire process."