State Ex Rel. Ford Motor Co. v. Messina

DUANE BENTON, Judge.

In the circuit court, plaintiffs have sought depositions of five executives of Ford Motor Company. The respondent judge denied Ford’s motion for a protective order, or to stay and quash the depositions. Ford seeks extraordinary relief. This Court issued a preliminary writ of prohibition, now made absolute, as modified. Mo. Const, art. V, sec. ⅛.

I

Between 1979 and 1984, Ford developed the “Bronco II” vehicle and equipped it with tires from Continental General Tire Company. In 1997, plaintiffs were injured, allegedly when their 1987 Bronco II went out of control due to a…