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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
FAMILIES REFUSE TO RIDE WITH DANGER - FILE CLASS ACTION AGAINST
BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE
South Florida Suit Asks for Emergency Vouchers
to Replace Tires
Miami,
FL (August 14, 2000) -- As the anxiety builds regarding the
nationwide recall of millions of Firestone tires, several South
Florida families have filed a class action suit against the tire
maker. The lawsuit was filed today in Miami-Dade County Circuit
Court by attorneys Roy Oppenheim and Bill McCarty of Oppenheim
Pilelsky, and Alan Kluger and Steve Silverman of Kluger Peretz
Kaplan & Berlin.
The
suit asks for emergency "equitable relief" for those persons who
have been refused immediate replacement of tires by Bridgestone/Firestone,
Inc., the manufacturer of the tires. Drivers of Ford Explorers
and other vehicles outfitted with the recalled tires have been
told they must wait until Bridgestone/Firestone can replace them,
which could be months away, due to the magnitude of the recall.
This means they are compelled to drive on unsafe tires. The lawsuit
demands "vouchers" be issued immediately so that the recalled
tires can be replaced with suitable tires from any other manufacturer.
"Lives
are in danger," said attorney Roy Oppenheim. "It is imperative
that Firestone take corrective and instantaneous measures to assure
the safety of every driver, passenger and the unsuspecting motoring
public. This lawsuit will hopefully compel the company to do the
right thing."
"While
this suit was brought by some families with financial concerns,
the intent is to represent all owners of these potentially hazardous
tires without regard to their financial status," said attorney
Alan Kluger. "There are many families where an outlay of hundreds
of dollars for new tires is simply not possible. Firestone must
make certain that no more accidents or deaths result from these
potentially dangerous tires and provide the means to have all
customers receive new tires."
According
to Oppenheim, "Families are reluctant to wait, knowing the potential
danger of these tires. Airlines provide vouchers for passengers
who miss a flight due to a problem caused by the airline. It makes
sense for Bridgestone/ Firestone to do the same. In fact, it is
shameful that this offer has not already been made."
Vouchers
for new tires would allow anyone affected, regardless of their
personal finances, to replace tires immediately. Because the company
has agreed to eventually do this, vouchers eliminate the waiting
time.
"Bridgestone/Firestone
needs to be proactive," said co-counsel Alan Kluger. "With the
heat of a South Florida summer and the composition of the roads,
the likelihood of tread separation appears to be much greater.
These tires are, in essence, ticking time bombs. The staggered
recall - and waiting period - could be eliminated by offering
vouchers that would be accepted at any tire retailer."
Bridgestone/Firestone
has already targeted Florida, Arizona, Texas and California as
the first states to receive relief based on the high summer temperatures,
which appear to affect the tires. However, the company has said
that the complete process of replacement will take approximately
18 months' and be lengthy even for the four primary states. According
to CO-counsel Bill McCarty, "Based on the press accounts of approximately
50 deaths and numerous injuries already attributable to the recalled
Firestone tires, another 18 months use of these tires will certainly
result in further injuries and loss of life which can be prevented
with the voucher system."
Steve
Silverman, also a partner at Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin, reaffirmed
the families' commitment to seeing this lawsuit through. "This
lawsuit is not about financial gain. It's about corporate responsibility
and public safety," he said.
# # #
Oppenheim
Pilelsky is a law firm concentrating its practice in consumer
litigation, real estate, business, insurance and Internet-related
matters, and select cases concerning personal injury and wrongful
death. The law firm of Oppenheim Pilelsky is located at: 1290
Weston Road, Suite 300, Weston, FL 33326 (954) 384-6114; www.oppenheimlaw.com.
Kluger,
Peretz, Kaplan & Berlin, P.A. engages principally in the practice
of business law, including the areas of commercial litigation,
bankruptcy, intellectual property, real estate, domestic & international
corporate transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, lender-borrower
liability, securities, antitrust, broker liability, and aviation.
The firm also handles family and domestic relation's cases and,
on a selective basis, negligence and catastrophic injury cases.
The firm maintains offices in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The Miami
office is located at Miami Center, Seventeenth Floor, 201 S. Biscayne
Blvd., Miami, FL 33131. The phone number is (305) 379-9000.
/CONTACT:
Christine Manna, Fran Schwartz or Dave Bloom of Boardroom Communications
at (954) 370-8999 or fschwartz@boardroompr.com/ christine@boardroompr.com,
all for Oppenheim Pilelsky and Kluger, Peretz, Kaplan & Berlin.
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