Landmark Case Decision Issued: Ford Motor Company To Pay Plaintiff $29 Million for Tire Failure on Ford Explorer

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas--Jan. 27, 2006--

First Firestone Tire/Explorer Legal Case to Ever be Successfully Tried to Verdict Since Firestone Tire Recalls in 1999

A landmark decision was handed down today by a jury in the 117th District Court, Cause No. 03-3353-B, Rose Marie Munoz vs. Ford Motor Company, et al, Nueces County, Texas. More than $29 million dollars was awarded to Rose Munoz, a 22-year-old woman who was rendered an incomplete quadriplegic as a result of product defects in the Ford-designed Explorer, sold as a Mazda Navajo, and the Firestone tire on the vehicle.

Plaintiffs' counsel, Roger S. Braugh, Jr. and Jason P. Hoelscher of Sico, White & Braugh, L.L.P., proved through documentary evidence and Ford corporate representative testimony that the subject Ford Explorer/Mazda Navajo and left rear Firestone tire that suffered a tread separation were defective and unreasonably dangerous as designed. The jury considered evidence regarding the defective handling and stability characteristics of the Ford Explorer/Mazda Navajo. Based on extensive data presented in this trial, the phenomenon known as rear axle "skate" is an inherent problem in the Ford Explorer vehicle, which leads to the driver's inability to properly control the vehicle upon tire de-tread.

This is the first case in the nation to be tried against a vehicle manufacturer for failure to warn about the hidden dangers of aged tires. The jury found Ford Motor Company and Mazda responsible for failing to warn regarding the hazards of aging tires, a problem that weakens a tire internally with no visible indications to owners. According to automotive owner manuals from Audi, Volkswagon and other European manufacturers, the automotive industry has been aware of the tire aging problem since the late 1980s, but has largely failed to provide consumer information on the topic. In this case, the vehicle in which Rose Munoz was traveling was using an original spare tire sold with the vehicle by Ford/Mazda that was ten years old at the time of the accident. Experts testified that the decomposition of the aging tire, along with the Explorer's handling problems, caused the accident and Rose's injuries. Furthermore, the jury considered Ford Motor Company's unique role in designing and developing the recalled Firestone ATX and Wilderness tires.

"Ford Motor Company should no longer hide its role in the design of the Firestone tires sold as original equipment on Ford Explorers and Mazda Navajos," said Roger S. Braugh, Jr. Mr. Hoelscher added, "This verdict exemplifies the growing concern regarding Ford's responsibility when a $142.00 fix was not made on the vehicle, which was producing more than a billion dollars a year in profits to Ford Motor Company." "The verdict also sends a strong message to auto manufacturers that consumers deserve to know now about the serious hazards of tire aging," said Mr. Braugh.

According to Mr. Hoelscher, Ford could have prevented the suffering of Rose Munoz and her family by making simple modifications to the Explorer and providing consumer information about the hazards of tire aging. This verdict represents the first complete Ford/Firestone trial, which has resulted from the well-publicized defects which were the subject of silent and public recalls dating back to 1999.

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