Business in brief Judge OKs four-state Explorer settlement

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A judge on Monday tentatively accepted a deal to settle class-action lawsuits on behalf of about 800,000 Ford Explorer owners whose vehicles lost value because of their perceived rollover danger.

The settlement ends lawsuits against Ford Motor Co. in California, Connecticut, Illinois and Texas, but personal injury and wrongful death claims involving the Explorer will continue.

Under the settlement announced last week, people who bought the sport utility vehicles from model years 1991 through 2001 will be eligible for $500 vouchers to buy new Explorers or $300 vouchers to buy other Ford or Lincoln Mercury products. The vouchers can be transferred to anyone in the same state as the original vehicle owner.

Ford, which admits no wrongdoing, will also be required to limit the safety claims in its advertising, and the company will pay as much as $25 million in costs and attorneys’ fees.