Never had the plaintiff been represented by lawyers with enough money to level the playing field.

The judge's first tasks include naming a committee to represent the plaintiffs.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs will receive $15 million in cash.

That signal has also reached lawyers usually representing plaintiffs in such cases.

In addition, Ford has agreed to pay $29 million to seven law firms representing the plaintiffs.

The two lawyers representing the plaintiffs will get $44,000 each plus expenses.

According to the lawyer representing the three plaintiffs, more lawsuits are planned.

He said his firm, which represents plaintiffs in hundreds of suits, would seek similar changes at other companies.

Lawyers who represent plaintiffs disagree, saying that more than half of the cases they see have merit.

Lawyers from eight firms representing the plaintiffs were to meet today to decide how to proceed.