Ford Motor Company suffered another setback in its effort to defend the Explorer sport-utility vehicle.
On February 8, 2005, the California Superior Court in Sacramento certified a class-action lawsuit pending against Ford, charging that it knew of a rollover defect in its Explorer SUVs that it concealed from consumers.
The class certified by the court generally includes persons who purchased or leased Ford Explorers in California during the period from 1990 through August 2000.
According to evidence presented to the court, Ford sold over 440,000 Explorers in California during that time period.
It was in August 2000 that Firestone initiated a recall of tires used on the Ford Explorer because of the large number of fatalities that occurred when Explorers rolled over after the tread separated from their
tires.
The plaintiffs allege that further investigation revealed that Ford had suggested underinflating the tires to conceal the Explorer's rollover problems. In deciding to certify the class, the court found that it is extremely important to avoid inconsistent decisions where a course of conduct by one defendant affecting hundreds of thousands of plaintiffs is at issue.
Accordingly, the court ruled that determining all of the claims in one forum will result in a uniform decision applicable to members of the class and that substantial benefits will accrue to both the litigants and the court from this process.
The court directed the parties to propose a form of notice that would be sent to potential class members notifying them of the court's decision. The case is entitled In Re Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Cases I & II, Judicial Counsel Coordinated Proceedings, NOS.
4266 and 4270, pending in the Superior Court of California for the County of Sacramento.
Ford's internal documents indicate that Ford ignored its engineers' advice that the Explorer SUV needed design revisions to prevent rollover accidents and fatal injuries, according to a Bloomberg news article of February 2, 2005.
In 2004, Ford lost 2 Explorer rollover cases at trial, including a verdict in San Diego of $150 million, after reduction by the trial judge, and a $5.3 million verdict in Fort Myers, Florida.
In addition to the California class action case, there are about two dozen trials claiming defects in Explorers that are set to take place this year.
About Green WellingAlong with co-counsel, Green Welling LLP represents the named plaintiff in the lead action of the California Ford Explorer cases.
Green Welling, a national class action law firm based in San Francisco, California, represents plaintiffs in product liability cases like the Ford Explorer litigation, as well as plaintiffs in consumer and financial actions, securities lawsuits, derivative cases and antitrust actions.
If you wish to discuss this action with us or have any questions concerning a potential class action, please contact Robert Green or Jenelle Welling by email at e-mail protected from spam bots or visit our website at www.classcounsel.com..
Scrap Tire Pyrolysis Residue Upgraded by CBp Europe Patented Technology Shows Cost Reduction Potentials for Replacing or Blending with Carbon Black
Independent tests by Akron Rubber Development Laboratory confirms that the generic CBp process successfully upgrades raw pyro-carbon residue (char) into cost-competitive grades of black reinforcing fillers that can be reused in rubber manufacturing for replacing or blending with carbon blacks and as an asphalt modifier. The reinforcing properties are related to the quality of the raw heterogenous pyro-char.However, in every case the tensile properties were always better than N-900 series carbon blacks. On CBp controlled runs tensile strengths exceeded N-600 carbon blacks in tests by BFGoodrich and Metso Minerals. The patented CBp technology was introduced at the Carbon Black 1996 World Conference "A Black Filler for Rubber Prepared from Tire Pyrolysis Char" by William Klingensmith and Michael Beck of Polymer Valley Chemical Inc as an economical solution necessary to commercialise pyrolysis of scrap rubber. Reinforcement qualities were presented equivalant to carbon blacks with particle...
Scrap Tire Pyrolysis Residue Upgraded by CBp Europe Patented Technology Shows Cost Reduction Potentials for Replacing or Blending with Carbon Black
Flat Tires Need Not Be A Burden
When your car's tires go flat, this kind of situation should not be a burden for you. After all, most cars already come with spare tires and a jack, along with other odds and ends that would help you facilitate changing your tires in no time at all.
To change a tire or a couple of tires, park your car first in an area where the ground is level. Do not forget to put on the parking brake. If your car is equipped with a manual transmission system, place it in gear.
Turn off your engine for there is no need for it to be turned on and running. However, if you have parked in an area where there is an incline, put a huge rock or a wheel chock beneath the opposing wheel so that you would not find your car rolling down the incline.
This is now the time to take out your spare tire as well as a tire iron and the jack. If you have to remove a hubcap, do such. Then, loosen the lug nuts on your wheel.
Do this before you place the jack in your car....
Flat Tires Need Not Be A Burden
Helping Your Car Run The Extra Mile
A little extra care here and there when it comes to your car, and you'll find yourself saving loads of money - not just on repairs, but on fuel as well!Keep your engine tuned up. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent. This means less money in your wallet. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended.I know it doesn't always fit into your schedule.
You just have to make yourself do it. If the dealer is charging an arm and a leg for a tune-up, get a second opinion at a local reputable car repair shop. They can do the same service schedule, usually at a greater savings to you.These tune-ups not only keep your car running smoothly, but they'll help when you're ready for a newer vehicle. A smooth running car means a better trade in value for you.Check your tires for proper inflation. Under-inflation actually wastes fuel.
It causes your engine to work harder to push the vehicle. Wheels...
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Workings of a motorcycle muffler suspension
Motorcycles are becoming more popular because of its convenience and relatively inexpensive cost compared to automobiles. They are capable of the same speeds as cars and can also be licensed for use on public highways.Owners and drivers of motorcycles opt for these motorized, two-wheeled vehicles as transportation because aside from it being an inexpensive alternative to cars, they can be easily maneuvered and they deliver higher fuel economy. In addition, they take less space for parking. No wonder a lot of Asian countries have more motorcycles than cars.And for drivers who love speed, motorcycles are great vehicles because they can accelerate more quickly than an automobile. Nevertheless, motorcycles are not for everybody.
Riding and controlling this vehicle requires skill and extra caution especially during difficult maneuverings on wet or slick surfaces.But when you do get the urge to ride a motorcycle, you would want to learn a lot of information on the vehicle, like "Where...
Workings of a motorcycle muffler suspension
Keep Your Automotive Tools Handy
Now that you have your own car, it is important that you do have the right automotive tools in handy. This is because you would never know when your car might act up and you would need to do some adjustments or repairs yourself. You should have a set of the basic and the most used automotive tools for car owners. These automotive tools should be kept handy either in a car repair kit or box inside your car or even in your car's trunk.
One of the first things that you should purchase for your car's tool kit would be an adjustable wrench.
This tool has the ability to actually automatically adjust to the size of the nut and could loosen or tighten everything. You should shell out around $10 to $40 for this one.
You should include a continuity tester. It is an electrical test equipment. You can use this to check if there is an electrical path that can be made between two points.
This is good for testing electrical parts in your car. This...
Keep Your Automotive Tools Handy
Buying new vs. used cars.
New vs used. Which car is right for you? Consider the following.Owning a brand new car is exciting. But financially speaking, it makes more sense to buy a used car. As soon as you drive a new car off the lot, it loses a great portion of its value. This is because your car is no longer "new".
New cars lose about 40% of their value within 3 years, then depreciation starts to slow down. Why not buy a used car and allow someone else to take that depreciation hit? The previous owner will have absorbed the steepest part of the depreciation cycle. At that point the costs of owning and operating the car will be reduced. The money you save on depreciation will surely go a long way.Another benefit of buying used is lower cost. By buying used you pay less.
You will also save on financing costs, insurance premiums, registration and licensing fees. You don't have to worry about paying sales tax.As with everything else there are a few downsides to buying a used car. There are greater...
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Toyo tires ira Claims of Ford Explorer Owners to Proceed as Class Action in California 
The Low Carb Diet F.A.Q
When most people think of low carb diets they automatically think Atkins. For obvious reasons. Dr. Robert Atkins formulated the original low carb diet in 1972 and was met a with a hail of ridicule and negativity from the medical community at large.The Atkins Diet, since renamed to the Atkins Nutritional Approach, works on a very simple principle. Carbohydrates are what our body normally use to produce energy.
If you restrict the carbohydrate intake of a normal person their metabolism changes....
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Toyo tires televisions Claims of Ford Explorer Owners to Proceed as Class Action in California 
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The Secrets have been in our family recipes, some even date back as far as 3000 BC. For years our Ancient ancestors have been using natural herbs and spices to heal and cure, even to take the weight off. For example: The Ancient Mayans used cayenne pepper which has been studied to increase the rate of metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. Some Additional research also indicates that cayenne increases production of epinephrine and nor epinephrine which together decrease appetite. The Chinese have...
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