LOS ANGELES (Sept. 12, 2002) — Attorneys for Cristina Hernandez opened the trial in her lawsuit against Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford Motor Co. by arguing the companies deliberately hid problems with the products they manufactured.
Ford forced Firestone to make ATX and Wilderness tires lighter and less safe for original equipment on the Ford Explorer, they claimed. Firestone and Ford's experts are expected to argue during the trial that Hernandez was speeding when the accident occurred, and that she didn't maintain her tires, according to a Reuters report.