CHICAGO (Reuters) - Lawyers representing those injured and killed in rollover accidents involving Ford Motor Co.'s Explorer and Firestone tires won't be able to seek a court-ordered recall of either product.
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Tuesday rejected an appeals request filed earlier this month.
Its decision lets stand a July 27 order issued in Indianapolis by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. She found that only the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (news - web sites) and not the court has the power to recall either the Explorer or tires made for the sport utility vehicle by Bridgestone Corp (news - external web site).'s Firestone unit.
A total of 203 deaths and more than 700 injuries have been linked to Ford Explorers that rolled over when the tread separated on their Firestone tires. Both companies have denied any wrongdoing.
More than 300 class action and personal injury lawsuits against Ford and Firestone have been consolidated before Judge Barker for pretrial purposes.