INDIANAPOLIS (March 27, 2002)—Ford Motor Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone will appeal an Indianapolis federal judge's decision to keep 121 lawsuits from Colombia and Venezuela in her court.
Judge Sarah Evans Barker rejected Ford and Firestone's motions to have these cases dismissed on the grounds that they would be better adjudicated in their home countries.
“It's not a ruling that makes sense,” a Ford spokeswoman said. “You're allowing individuals from other countries to sue in U.S. courts without giving the companies access for discovery or witnesses.”