Judge Sets New Trial in Ford TFI Case

A California judge has ordered a new jury trial to determine damages in a class-action
lawsuit against Ford Motor Company. The judge declined plaintiffs’ request for about $3
billion in damages against Ford for allegedly defective thick film ignition (TFI) systems
that may have caused stalling and breakdowns. The case involves allegations that Ford TFI
modules too close to the engine in at least 1.7 million California cars and trucks, causing
them to stall. The California recall includes virtually every Ford model from 1984-87 as
well as selected vehicles manufactured through 1995 and a few in 1983. The Alameda County
Superior Court justice, who last year ordered Ford to recall up to 2 million cars and
trucks over the alleged defect, hopes to get a new trial going by mid-September. Similar
suits in Alabama, Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee and Washington are on hold, awaiting the
outcome of this case.