Top Bridgestone/Firestone Executive to Face Tough Questioning in Deposition Today
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The top executive of the embattled Bridgestone/Firestone Tire Company due to face some tough questioning later this hour. Attorneys representing former owners of the recalled tires expected to grill the executive about what he knew about the defects and when he knew it. CNN's Susan Candiotti live in Nashville, where the deposition being taken today. She joins us now by telephone with more. Susan, hello.</s>SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. This deposition should begin at any time now. And it is believed to be the first time that Bridgestone/Firestone CEO Masatoshi Ono being deposed in any of the lawsuits that have been filed against Bridgestone/Firestone. It certainly is the first time he is being deposed since the recall of 6 1/2 million tires began last August. A number of attorneys from around the country that have been suing Bridgestone/Firestone nationwide have been seeking to depose Mr. Ono. You might recall that he testified before Congress and apologized to the American people, promising to get to the bottom of the problem. One of the attorneys who will be deposing Mr. Ono today is from Fort Myers, Florida, Mary Pat Viles. And she is seeking a class- action status in her lawsuit against the tire maker. She has also been seeking to attempt to broaden the recall and to put the recall under the direction of the courts. You'll remember that we're talking about ATX, ATXII and Wilderness AT tires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into links between those tires and at least 101 deaths. Now, a little over a week ago, NHTSA launched a preliminary investigation into another brand of Firestone tires, the Stealtex 15, 15 1/2 and 16 inch tires, which is on a number of vehicles -- which are on a number of vehicles, including the Ford Excursion and the GM Suburban. At least 27 million of those are on the road, according to Bridgestone/Firestone. This deposition of Mr. Ono is expected to last at least through this day. And later on in the week, other executives will be questioned by lawyers -- Bill.</s>HEMMER: Susan Candiotti from Nashville. Susan, thanks to you.