Judge rules on class certification in California class action lawsuit against American Suzuki.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1994--Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Barnet M. Cooperman ruled Wednesday in Carney v. American Suzuki Motor Corp. (American Suzuki), Case No. JCCP 2678, on defendant's motion to decertify the court's Aug. 30 class certification order and held in favor of the class plaintiffs.

This ruling establishes a legal precedent as Carney becomes the first class action to be successfully sustained against American Suzuki on either a state or federal level. Next, the court will rule on class notification procedures and trial is anticipated in Spring of 1995.

"We are pleased that the court endorsed the class certification order," said Terry Keelan, a partner with the Los Angeles law firm of King & Williams and one of the lawyers representing the class. "This paves the way for a trial on the merits and will allow a jury to determine whether or not American Suzuki should be held accountable for the defectively designed and manufactured Suzuki Samurai."

Carney revives consumer efforts, dating back to 1988, to compel defendant to repair its defectively designed Suzuki Samurais, including requests to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, to have the vehicle recalled. There are approximately 45,000 Suzuki Samurais in California, and Carney will cover only those individuals who purchased Suzuki Samurais from a Suzuki dealer or distributor.

Those who opt to join the class will seek $2,000 each from American Suzuki to correct the Samurai's design defects for a total repair bill of $90 million.

"Consumers in other states and the automotive industry will be watching this case carefully," explained Larry Schwartz, co-counsel on behalf of the class and a solo practitioner in Beverly Hills, "because it is sending a powerful signal that demands accountability for design defects in vehicles, placing consumer safety above the corporate bottom line."

Nationally, there are approximately 174,220 Suzuki Samurais on the road as of July 1, 1993, according to statistics maintained by R.L. Polk & Co. of Long Beach, Calif.

Plaintiffs allege that American Suzuki has known about the Suzuki Samurais' design defect, which involves a center of gravity for the vehicle that is too high, a narrow tread width, a short wheel base and light weight, all of which combine to create an unacceptable risk of highly injurious or deadly roll-over accidents since 1986.

"We will prove that the design defects in the Samurai are responsible for the majority of foreseeable roll-over accidents, and not improper use or careless and negligent conduct as defendant maintains," said Keelan. "Our goal is simply safe cars, free of design defects, for all Suzuki Samurai owners."

CONTACT: Communication Art Forms, Los Angeles

Kathy Pinckert, 310/836-8355