Attorneys of Record for
Tires

Taras Kick
The Kick Law Firm
660 South Figeroa Street
Suite 1800
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213-624-1588
217-624-1589 fax
taras@kicklawfirm.com
kicklawfirm.com

C. Tab Turner
Turner & Associates, PA
4705 Somers Avenue, Suite 100
North Little Rock, AR 72116
501-791-2277
501-791-1251 fax
tab@tturner.com
tturner.com

Firestone's North Carolina Plant
Threatens Whistleblowing Ex-Employee

AUG 16 -- Unknown persons at Firestone's Wilson, N.C., plant are trying to organize a boycott to put pressure on Firestone ex-employee, Alan Hogan, after Hogan was interviewed earlier this week by CBS network news reporter Sharyl Attkisson. Hogan told Attkisson about shoddy production methods at Firestone's N.C. facility that exacerbate the design deficiencies of Firestone's ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires. Hogan told of production pressure and methods similar to those being reported out of Firestone's Decatur facility where Firestone and Ford say the problem is localized. Hogan told Safetyforum.com today that he believes that there is nothing unique about the production methods in Decatur.

Hogan left Firestone several years ago to set up his own body repair shop in Wilson, a small town in eastern North Carolina. Yesterday afternoon, a letter to "DEAR FELLOW EMPLOYEES" calling for a boycott of his business began circulating at the plant. In addition to calling for a boycott of Hogan's business, the letter urged employees "Please do not patronize any product or service from Paul Berry Chevrolet, Capital Toyota, Paul Berry Daewoo, or Paul Berry Certified Vehicles as long as Alan Hogan is associated with them in any capacity." Those businesses have contracts with Hogan's body shop to do repair work. Hogan's business also leases space from the businessman who owns the dealerships, according to Hogan. The letter provides telephone numbers and a fax number that employees should call "to express your concern regarding Mr. Alan Hogan and his allegations.

A copy of the letter was faxed to one of the auto dealerships from a fax machine in Firestone's accounts payable office. "That's one of the executive offices up front," Hogan told Safetyforum.com. "This fax is out of the front office, just around the corner" from plant manager John McQuade's office, "There's no way this came from anybody on the (production) floor," he said explaining that "something like this doesn't happen without management's knowledge."

Text from fax letter:

DEAR FELLOW EMPLOYEES

PLEASE DO NOT PATRONIZE ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE FROM PAUL BERRY CHEVROLET, CAPITAL TOYOTA, PAUL BERRY DAEWOOD, OR PAUL BERRY CERTIFIED VEHICLES AS LONG AS ALAN HOGAN IS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM IN ANY CAPACITY. WE REALIZE THAT MR. HOGAN IS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR TO THE ABOVE LISTED COMPANIES; HOWEVER HE IS CONTRACTED DIRECTLY BY THE PAUL BERRY ORGANIZATION AND AS SUCH WE FEEL THAT PAUL BERRY BEING MINDFUL OF THE PURCHASES MADE BY FIRESTONE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VICIOUS, MALICIOUS ALLEGATIONS STATED BY A DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEE OF FIRESTONE, OF WHICH IS IN THEIR EMPLOY, WHETHER DIRECTLY OF CONTRACTED. IF THE PAUL BERRY ORGANIZATION VALUES THE BUSINESS GENERATED BY FIRESTONE EMPLOYEES, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS, THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY TERMINATE ANY AFFILIATION WHATSOEVER WITH MR. ALAN HOGAN AND ANYONE ASSOCIATED WITH HIM... EMPLOYEES AT FIRESTONE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR WORK AND FEEL PERSONALLY ATTACKED BY MR. ALAN HOGAN AND FEEL THAT HE HAS ATTEMPTED TO BRING SHAME TO OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES.

WE ENCOURAGE ALL FIRESTONE EMPLOYEES, FAMILY MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES TO WITHDRAW FROM DOING BUSINESS IN ANY FORM WITH THE PAUL BERRY/CAPITAL TOYOTA CORPORATION AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUE TO CONTRACT SERVICES FROM MR. ALAN HOGAN. IN ADDITION, WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT RM. MARK BERRY AT 9252) 291-5300 / (252) 291-2111 OR (800) 280-5300 TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN REGARDING MR. ALAN HOGAN AND HIS ALLEGATIONS.

(08/16/00)