Ford to Face Suits Over Crown Victoria

Ford Motor Co. will have to face state court trials in 15 class-action suits filed by police departments over its Crown Victoria police vehicle, a federal judge said.

Police departments in several states, including Texas, New Jersey and Louisiana, filed suits claiming that the Crown Victoria is vulnerable to fuel-fed fires in rear-end collisions.

Ford, which asked U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent to keep the lawsuits together in federal court, said the claims were prohibited by federal auto safety laws. Nugent sent the lawsuits back to state court for trial.