A federal judge has ordered Toyota to turn over tens of thousands of company documents about problems its vehicles have with unintended acceleration. Plaintiffs hailed the decision as an indication that the court wants to keep the case moving forward, rather than allowing the auto giant to slow the legal process.
The world's biggest carmaker faces more than 200 federal lawsuits and 100 state cases over alleged design flaws in several of its vehicles, including the Prius and Lexus. The allegations date back to 2002, when Toyota installed a computerized system controlling acceleration.
To date, 89 deaths have been linked to consumer complaints about unintended, sudden acceleration in Toyota vehicles.
Consolidation of Federal Lawsuits
The federal suits have been consolidated into a single class action case.
The federal judge presiding over the case gave Toyota 30 days to comply with his order. Toyota attorneys claimed the estimated 75,000 to 100,000 documents cannot be assembled in such a short time - a claim the judge dismissed.
Products liability lawyers for the plaintiffs plan to use information from the documents to construct their case against the automaker, with possible new charges to be filed in 60 days.
Toyota executives deny the claims in the lawsuits, saying that the deaths and injuries attributed to unintended acceleration problems are instead the fault of drivers, jammed floor mats or "sticky" gas pedals.
A Record Fine
Toyota has paid a record $16 million fine for delaying the reporting of its problems with defective gas pedals.
More than 8.5 million vehicles have been recalled by the company, and Toyota recently recalled another batch of cars, 150,000 Lexus hybrids, over problems with the anti-lock braking system.
Though the discovery process is under way in the federal class action suit, that doesn't mean affected consumers cannot join the legal process.
Consumer advocates urge people who have experienced sudden, unintended acceleration in their Toyota vehicles to discuss the incidents and any damages to person or property with an attorney who handles consumer products liability cases.
A lawyer can help consumers seek justice against negligent manufacturers and obtain compensation for damages caused by defective products.
