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By Carol Yancho
CNN

McALLEN, Texas (CNN) -- Attorneys for a family suing Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. for an accident that seriously injured a woman attempted to show in court Wednesday that the company's executives knew of problems with the tires but sold them anyway.

In one videotaped deposition played in court, Robert Martin, the former head of Bridgestone/Firestone's quality assurance division, was questioned about heat resistant ratings on Wilderness AT tires.

An attorney asked Martin about temperature grades for tires, with "A" being the most heat resistant and "C" being the least. Martin, in the videotaped deposition, said he didn't think his company manufactured any tires with "C" ratings.

The attorney then showed what he described as an internal Firestone document dated November 5, 2000 with a picture of the Wilderness At tire and a "C" rating.

"I was wrong," Martin said.

VIDEO CNN's Ed Lavandera reports on the trial in Texas (August 14) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

The attorney then asked if Firestone had indeed used the least heat resistant tires for Southern states. "If it says 'C' on there, I would have to say yes," he said.

Joel and Marisa Rodriguez and other relatives are suing Bridgestone/Firestone for $1 billion after an accident last year in which the 1998 Ford Explorer they were riding in rolled over after the tread on the right rear wheel tire separated. The tire in the vehicle was a Firestone Wilderness AT.

Marisa Rodriguez has been confined to a wheelchair since the accident.

Testimony focuses on tire pressure

In his testimony, Martin also talked about the inflation of the tires. Firestone has said Ford has recommended a lower tire pressure because of rollover concerns with the Ford Explorer.

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Martin said he did not believe Ford had conducted any tests on the tire at the 26 psi (pounds per square inch) tire pressure rating. In a later part of the deposition read aloud by a Bridgestone/Firestone attorney, Martin said it was Ford's responsibility to determine what tire pressure it recommended for its vehicles.

Martin was also asked by the plaintiffs' attorney about the lack of "nylon caps" on some Firestone tires. The caps help to keep the tire temperature down.

Asked whether the technology was available as early as 1995, Martin answered, "Yes, it was available."

Bridgestone executive expected to testify

A friend of the Rodriguezes later testified about the accident's effect on Marisa, who she described as an active, loving mother, very involved in her children's lives before the accident.

Carmen Esquivel de Davila cried as she described seeing her friend after the accident. "She was like a baby in a bed. She was paralyzed," she said.

Videotaped testimony is expected Wednesday from John Lampe, the CEO of Bridgestone/Firestone.

Joel Rodriguez is expected to take the stand, and Marisa Rodriguez also may take the stand Wednesday.

The accident occurred five months before Firestone announced it was recalling 6.5 million 15-inch Wilderness AT, ATX, and ATX II tires manufactured at Firestone's Decatur, Ill., plant -- where the Rodriguez's tire was made.

The Rodriguez family reached an undisclosed settlement with Ford in July.