Michelin wins consolidation of Pax lawsuits in Maryland court

Tire Business staff report

Baltimore - The US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has granted Michelin North America Inc.'s motion to consolidate four lawsuits against the tyre maker and American Honda Motor Co. to the Baltimore federal district court.

The lawsuits, which allege that Michelin and Honda misled consumers about the cost and convenience of repairing or replacing Michelin's Pax run-flat tyre/wheel systems, had originally been filed in federal courts in Arizona, Florida, Illinois and New York, on behalf of Honda Odyssey and Acura owners. Pax came standard on the 2005-07 Honda Odyssey Touring edition mini-van and as an option on the 2006-07 Acura RL vehicles.

Earlier Pax lawsuits that were consolidated in Maryland were dismissed, and the latest litigation will be heard by the same judge who dismissed the earlier cases, according to a Michelin spokeswoman.

“We find no merit to these cases, and we certainly would expect a similar outcome,” she said.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)