Another Ford-Firestone Settlement

Once again Ford and Firestone have settled a roll-over claim. This case attracted an even higher level of interest as two of the victims of the crash were high profile people. Earl Shinhoster, a veteran NAACP civil rights official in Atlanta, died in the 2000 Ford Explorer crash which also injured Samimah Aziz, a goddaughter of the Rev.

Jesse Jackson, and the driver, Ademah Hackshaw. The Explorer was in a motorcade with the first lady of Liberia and a state patrol escort making this an unusual case. Ruby Shinhoster speaking for herself and two other survivors said “I’m relieved .

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but they still haven’t admitted they did anything wrong.” Bridgestone/Firestone spokesman Dan MacDonald said the company was pleased to resolve the case without a trial. “Although the tire line involved in this case has an excellent safety record, protracted litigation is in no one’s best interest,” Firestone has now settled some 700 such cases.

Ford spokeswoman Kathleen Vokes said the company believes the Explorer is a safe vehicle and statistics back up the claim. Ford and the tire maker had said the accident happened partly because the tire was 7 years old and the motorcade was travelling at least 80 mph in a 70 mph zone..