FAULTY TIRE CASES WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES SETTLED BY FIRESTONE, FORD

 

Clinton C. Hale vs. The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, a foreign corporation, Exxon Corporation, a foreign corporation and M&H Enterprises, Inc. of Miami
11th Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Florida

 

Clinton Hale was in the United States Air Force stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Pensacola, Florida.  On the day of the accident he was driving his convertible sports car when the tread on the left rear Firestone tire came off, whipped out of the wheel well and struck him in the face.  Mr. Hale then lost control of his car causing it to go off the road and roll over. As the result of the roll over, our client broke his back and was paralyzed from the waist down.  On his behalf we filed suit against Firestone claiming that the tread came off the tire due to defects in design and manufacture. After a year of litigation, Firestone voluntarily settled the case and insisted that the amount be kept confidential. Since then, our firm has successfully represented others in lawsuits against Firestone.

 

Eileen McGovern, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Kevin Martin, deceased and Eileen McGovern, as mother and natural guardian of Brian McGovern, a minor vs. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., a foreign corporation and Morgan Tire & Auto, Inc. d/b/a Olson Tire/Total Car Care, a Florida corporation
20th Circuit, Lee County, Florida

 

Bryan McGovern, 13 years old, was a passenger in his family’s Ford Explorer when the tread on the Firestone “Wilderness” AT tire came off. Kevin Martin, Bryan’s step-father, was unable to control the vehicle due to the tire failure and the Explorer swerved into the guardrail and down an embankment. Mr. Martin was killed in the accident and Bryan received a head injury. It was a case remarkably similar to Hale v. Firestone that we had worked on over 10 years earlier. Shortly after this case was filed, both Ford and Firestone settled the case. The amount of the settlements is confidential.