Cooper, trial lawyers settle lawsuit

ERJ staff report (R&PN)

Oxforf, Mississippi -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. settled its $189 million lawsuit against trial lawyers Bruce Kaster and John Booth Farese on the day the trial was to begin.

Cooper sued Kaster and Farese over the release of an affidavit that Cooper claimed was obtained illegally from a former employee and had caused the company's stock prices to slide. The affidavit alleged the destruction of documents relating to a 2002 wrongful death lawsuit in Arkansas.

Judge Sharion Aycock of the US District Court of the Northern District of Mississippi ordered that the details of the settlement agreement be kept confidential. Patricia Brown, Cooper vice president of global branding and communications, and Cameron Abel, an attorney for Kaster, both said they were pleased with the settlement but declined further comment because of the court order.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)