BAY CITY, Texas (April 1, 2002)—A trial was set to begin April 1 in Matagorda County District Court, in which Bridgestone/Firestone and U-Haul International Inc. were accused of making unsafe products that caused a young woman's catastrophic injuries.
Erin Brunner, now 22, was a passenger in a Ford Explorer towing a U-Haul trailer near Kent, Texas in 1999. The vehicle was involved in a roll over accident that left Ms. Brunner quadriplegic and comatose.
Ms. Brunner's family claims defective tires and an unstable trailer were to blame, and seeks $100 million in damages. According to a Bloomberg News story, the family also sued Ford Motor Co., which settled for an undisclosed sum.
A Bridgestone/Firestone spokeswoman said the trial judge has asked that the plaintiffs and defendants not discuss the case outside the courtroom.
Opening arguments were scheduled for April 4 and 5, and the trial was expected to go on for at least a week.