FIRESTONE TRIAL PAYOUT: $7.5 MIL. Firestone SETTLEMENT GOES TO FAMILY OF WOMAN PARALYZED IN SUV CRASH

McALLEN, Texas--The first trial to come out of the Firestone tiredebacle ended abruptly in a settlement Friday, with Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. agreeing to pay a reported $7.5 million to the familyof a woman paralyzed in the rollover crash of a Ford Explorer.

The settlement was announced shortly after the jury began a fourthday of deliberations in the closely watched $1 billion federallawsuit.

The amount was not disclosed, but two sources familiar with thesettlement told the Associated Press that it was $7.5 million.

"Our mission here, for our family, was to make sure no otherperson suffered like our family did," said Dr. Joel Rodriguez, whosewife, Marisa, 39, was paralyzed and brain-damaged when the Explorercrashed on a Mexican road last year. "We feel that our objective hasbeen met."

Bridgestone/Firestone had blamed the accident on the Explorer,saying design flaws made it prone to rolling over.

In settling the case, the tire maker admitted no liability.

It was not immediately known which way the jurors were leaningbefore deliberations were cut short. They were escorted out of thecourtroom, and their names were sealed by U.S. District Judge FilemonVela, who recommended that they not talk about the case because itcould affect other lawsuits.

The case was the first Firestone lawsuit to go to trial since therecall last summer of 6.5 million of the tires. Federal officialshave linked more than 200 deaths to accidents involving Firestones onExplorers.

Bridgestone/Firestone has settled about 200 cases and has about300 still pending. Ford settled with the Rodriguezes for $6 millionbefore trial.

With more cases pending, the Texas trial had drawn intensescrutiny as the industry and personal-injury lawyers watched to seewhether Bridgestone/Firestone could persuade a jury to assign atleast some of the blame for the accident to Ford.

Rodriguez's brother Jorge Rodriguez was driving the Explorer on afamily trip in March 2000 when the steel belt and tread on the rightrear tire tore apart. The vehicle rolled over three times, crushingthe roof.

Rodriguez testified that his once-vibrant wife now spends her dayssitting at a table or watching television.

Firestone attorney Knox Nunnally said he believes the companyillustrated that Ford was to blame. "The message anyone I believewould get out of this trial if they sat through all of the evidenceis that [the Rodriguezes'] Firestone tire was not the problem," hesaid.

A Ford spokeswoman declined comment.