Ford hit with lawsuit over Rouge explosion

Ford Motor Co. finds itself involved in another lawsuit because of an explosion on Feb. 1, 1999, that killed six workers at the automaker's Rouge manufacturing complex. Five insurance companies of Rouge Industries Inc. have filed a $25 million lawsuit against Ford alleging the automaker's negligence led to the blast. This newest lawsuit, filed in Wayne County, MI, comes a mere week after another Rouge insurer, Factory Mutual Insurance Co., filed a $134 million lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Detroit. Both lawsuits make similar claims - that Ford could have prevented the fatal blast. In addition to the six workers killed, more than 30 others were injured. Total damages have been estimated at $1 billion, one of the costliest industrial accidents in U.S. history.