In a victory for defenders of consumer safety, Ford Motor Co. and Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. have reached a landmark settlement in what would have been the first Ford/Firestone rollover case to go to trial since the scandal began.

Both companies will release, as a part of the settlement agreement, previously confidential internal documents related to the investigation of the Ford/Firestone rollover scandal. These sensitive documents were previously available only to federal investigators and congressional committees.

And in another rare move, both companies have personally apologized to Donna Bailey, the plaintiff in the case, for their role in her injuries. In " the largest vehicular product liability crisis in the history of this country," according to an attorney for Bailey, "the Ford Explorer, on these tires, has rolled over and killed more people than any product in the nation."

On the day of her accident, Donna Bailey was riding with two friends on route to a weekend rockclimbing trip. She was riding in the passenger seat of her friend's Ford Explorer when one of the tire's treads suddenly peeled off. Donna had been wearing her seatbelt and was still strapped in when emergency crews arrived. There were no warnings that the tire was about to fail. The tires involved in the crash were not part of Firestone's massive recall, according to the Associated Press.

Bailey, just 44 years old, was rendered quadriplegic by the crash. Adjusting has been difficult for her as she has a passion for physical fitness. "It's like being in jail.... I still dream I'm running at night.... That's hard and I miss that." She has two children, an 18-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son.

Ford will have 15 days after the judge accepts the settlement to release case documents to the public and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA).

In addition to the above terms Ford will "inspect, photograph and analyze each tire failure" according to a press release by the attorneys representing Donna Bailey.

These stipulations go beyond compensation for damages and towards justice for the many affected by the negligence of these companies including Donna Bailey. This case demonstrates the need for corporate liability and accountability for products and practices that cause injury.

The contemptuous actions by these two corporations are humanized by the terms of this settlement and that, in turn, sends a message that their and every other corporation should place a high priority on the well-being of consumers and not just the bottom line.

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Archived Materials Regarding Ford/Firestone:

Factsheet: Firestone/Ford: Denial and Criminality
Factsheet: Firestone/Ford Tire Recall Timeline
Factsheet: Tort 'Reform' Would Protect Firestone/Ford
News Archives: Firestone/Ford: A Case Study
News Archives: What Bush's "Reforms" Take From Injured Families