FRANK SESNO, CNN ANCHOR: The top executive of Bridgestone/Firestone is answering questions under oath from lawyers in Nashville, Tennessee, today. Attorneys for customers suing the tire maker said they plan to ask Masatoshi Ono when his company knew there were problems with its tires and why it didn't issue a warning sooner. CNN's Susan Candiotti joins us now by phone from Nashville. Susan, tell us exactly what is happening today and what's on the line with it all.</s>SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Frank, since responsibility is supposed to rise to the top, as a top executive of Bridgestone/Firestone, Masatoshi Ono is believed to hold the answers to all the questions surrounding Firestone's troubles. And so attorneys today, representing clients in Florida, Mississippi Tennessee and Illinois, are trying to hold Mr. Ono's feet to the fire, confronting him on his testimony to Congress about how long the company has known about why some of its tires were defective and why the recall isn't broader than it is. You'll remember, Mr. Ono apologized to the American people during House hearings on the recall and attorneys deposing Mr. Ono and other Bridgestone/Firestone executives have all filed lawsuits against the tire maker, seeking class-action status. Lawyers want a court to take over supervision of the recall. In their words, they don't think Firestone should be calling the shots. Now, they also want the embattled tire company to include more tires in the recall -- well beyond the 6.5 million ATX, ATX2 and Wilderness AT tires made Firestone's Decatur, Illinois plant. As you also recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 101 deaths that may be linked to those tires. Security is very tight here at this Nashville hotel where Mr. Ono's deposition is being videotaped; and the company continues to deny widespread reports that Mr. Ono is going to be replaced in a management restructuring -- Frank.</s>SESNO: Susan Candiotti, reporting.
Firestone Top Executive Gives Deposition on Recalled Tires