A Texas jury recently awarded $29 million to the family of a 35-year-old man who was killed in an accident involving a Bridgestone/Firestone tire defect. Terry Tripp died in September 2000 after the tread separated on the left rear tire of his Chevrolet Blazer. Jurors determined that Sears Roebuck, the company that sold the tire, was negligent for failing to properly repair the tire when Tripp brought in his vehicle for tire maintenance about 15,000 miles before the accident.

Plaintiff attorneys argued that even though the Dueler APT model was not part of the August 2000 recall, Sears should have replaced the tire to avoid a possible accident. Tripp's family reached a settlement with Bridgestone/Firestone before the case went to trial. More than 200 deaths have been linked to Firestone tires nationwide.