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Firestone CEO, former workers answer questions in tire lawsuits

Hilton testified that although testing was rigorous at Firestone's Decatur, Illinois, plant, some rubber that only partially-passed inspection was used in tire production

(CNN) -- "The bottom line was to get the tires out," a former employee of the Bridgestone/Firestone tire plant in Decatur, Illinois, said of the company's philosophy.

Jan Wagoner was one of four retired workers who gave depositions Thursday in two lawsuits filed against Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford Motor Co. by family members and victims of accidents blamed on tread separation problems with the tires.

The Decatur plant is the site where most of the now-recalled Firestone tires were made.

Wagoner, who worked at the plant for 32 years, said machinery sometimes would break down, resulting in a pile of tires awaiting inspection "high enough to spill over your head."

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He said he was angry that the company demanded workers repair sidewall blisters by punching holes in the tire with an awl.

"I wasn't sure if it was bad for the tire but I just didn't like doing it," Wagoner said, adding that he protested. But, he said, his supervisors defended the procedure as new and told him, "If you don't like it, tough."

Another retired worker, Gerald Rogers, also talked about using the awl on tires.

Thursday's deposition session was open to some reporters.

Wagoner said so-called "green" tires sometimes were placed on the floor to make room for more tires. The rubber on green tires has not been cured so the surface is still sticky, allowing it to pick up stray dirt and other foreign matter.

Charles Hilton, a retiree who had worked in the Decatur plant's quality control lab, said raw materials constantly were tested, but some rubber that only partially passed inspection was mixed with "good" rubber and used in production. Hilton insisted the inspection process was rigorous.

"We have specs for everything except punching in and punching out," Hilton said, adding that he still drives on Firestone ATX tires.

Lonnie Dart, who held several positions in the plant over 32 years, said some control procedures were not followed. Dart said steel belt material, which was supposed to be stored in a climate-controlled room to avoid corrosion and rust, sometimes was left in other areas for up to 30 minutes. Rust and corrosion make it difficult for rubber to adhere to the steel belt material.

A Bridgestone/Firestone general counsel disputed the testimony.

Daniel Adomitis said if the steel belt material is left outside the climate-controlled area for too long, it is reprocessed to removed rust and corrosion before it goes into production. Adomitis charged that at least two of the workers -- Wagoner and Dart -- were angry with the company. He pointed out that the workers had noted multiple steps in the inspection process and their personal pride in their work.

Firestone CEO grilled

The CEO of Bridgestone/Firestone also answered questions Thursday in a separate case before a judge abruptly halted the deposition.

Chief Judge Sarah Evans Barker of the Southern District of Indiana recently was appointed to oversee about 60 cases against the beleaguered tire maker and Ford Motor Co.

After lunch Thursday, she agreed to a motion filed by attorneys for newly appointed Firestone chief John Lampe, and delayed the deposition to familiarize herself with the details of the case.

Lampe faced attorneys seeking class-action status for claims filed in Tennessee, Florida and Mississippi.

Barker agreed to stay all discovery in the case.

"Conducting this discovery independent of the consolidated actions in this case threatens to undermine the purpose of multidistrict litigation," the order read.

Discovery would not be resumed "until case management plans have been made," the order stated.

Firestone had tried to head off the deposition Wednesday, but the federal judge overseeing one of the cases in East St. Louis, Illinois, refused to grant a postponement, said plaintiffs' attorney Michael Hausfeld of Washington, D.C.

Lampe said he thinks the decision to stay is logical.

"I think it makes much more sense and is more efficient to the plaintiffs as well," he said.

Hausfeld said Firestone had argued for more time in view of a federal judicial panel's decision announced Wednesday to consolidate about 60 lawsuits filed against Firestone and Ford Motor Co.

Both companies have blamed each other for the tire problems. Lampe said Thursday the relationship between Ford and Firestone is strained.

Firestone representatives were scheduled to meet Thursday with officials of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington, where the company was to update the agency on claims data involving the 6.5 million tires that have been recalled.

Firestone announced in August it was recalling voluntarily its ATX, ATX II and Wilderness models amid reports of tread separation problems.

NHTSA is investigating 119 deaths, more than 500 injuries and at least 3,500 complaints filed in connection with the recalled tires.

Most of the tires were original equipment on the Ford Explorer.

CNN Detroit Bureau Chief Ed Garsten and Correspondent Susan Candiotti contributed to this report.

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Ford Motor Company - Home Page
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