Transcript - Bridgestone/Firestone/Ford Lawsuit - Fox News Channel 32 Chicago - September 26, 2000

Ford/Firestone Class Action
FOX News 32
October 13, 2000
9:00 P.M.

Reporter: What is the present motivation for this general meeting with the associates?

Ken Moll: To meet with people that were injured in Venezuela, were amazed at the tragedy that has occurred here in Venezuela. We affirmed accounts of so many people that were injured by Ford Explorers and Firestone tires here, that it's just the tip of the iceberg. What the true tragedy is, is that Ford and Firestone knew about their problems, their dangerous defects in their cars, and did not advise Venezuela so that they could have prevented these accidents. We filed a worldwide lawsuit in America to represent Venezuelans who were injured in accidents by Ford Explorers and Firestone tires.

Reporter: What would be your motive for the lawsuit?

Ken Moll: Each of the personal injury cases will be evaluated determined upon the loss sustained by each family, that's number one.

Reporter: How many Venezuelans are involved in this lawsuit?

Kenneth Moll: We represent over a thousand Venezuelans in the lawsuit, up in America. We have an early date within the next several months. Were meeting with Ford representatives at Ford and Firestone to determine the value of the personal injury cases.

Reporter: What kind of meeting will there be with Ford and Firestone?

Ken Moll: We are going to start negotiations to determine how much they are willing to pay for the damages that occurred here in Venezuela to each family. Let me say something that is very important. We have very few clients in relation to how many claims we know are out there. There are a lot of families, a lot of accidents that have occurred, and these people have not stepped forward. So if they've had an accident with Firestone or Ford Explorers they have to come forward, or we can't represent their claim in America.

Reporter: Any other thing that you would like to point out?

Ken Moll: The documents that we've acquired, the witnesses that we've talked to, clearly point that Ford and Firestone knew they had a problem and tried to cover it up without advising these families, when they could of prevented the losses that these families sustained, tragic losses.

Reporter: When do you think there will be any decisions in the United States Court on this case?

Ken Moll: Each month we're in front of the judge. We've been in front of the judge two times and we'll go back there again in January. This case is moving by very quickly. We expect a resolution of all the personal injury claims by next year and the loss of value and the recall, certainly we would hope by next year also. It's moving very quickly.