LEGAL NEWS
Untitled Page
Breaking: O.C. district attorney sues Toyota
Officials said this morning they have filed an unfair business practice lawsuit against the automaker.
By Kristen SchottPublished: March 12, 2010 09:36 AM
Courtesy of ToyotaOrange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas says his office has filed an unfair business practices lawsuit against Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.
The suit is being filed to prevent the automaker from harming the public through the sale of "defective vehicles and deceptive business practices."
Rackauckas this morning announced the claim, which was filed with assistance from Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson in the Orange County Superior Court.
This is the first in the U.S. to bring a consumer protection lawsuit against Toyota, according to a statement from Rackauckas posted on the office's Web site.
"I feel it is the duty of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to protect the public and our consumers from unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices," he says. "I feel it is our duty to make sure Toyota is not gaining an unfair business advantage over other car companies who are not doing what Toyota is doing."
Toyota has recalled about 6 million vehicles in the U.S. – and more than 8 million across the globe – due to problems associated with braking and acceleration in a number of models, including the Prius.
Prosecutors are bringing forward a number of complaints on behalf of the people of Orange County. Among them:
Toyota knowingly sold cars and trucks with defects that cause the autos to accelerate suddenly and uncontrollably.
These defects exist in hundreds of thousands of Toyotas sold to Californians over the last several years.
Rather than halt the sales of products in California until the problem was fixed, Toyota made the business decision to continue selling and leasing their defective products to Californians.
Millions of California consumers have been harmed by owning or leasing defective Toyotas, which completely undermines the safety and reliability of the vehicles.
For the full statement, click here.
There have been 58 deaths attributed to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles, according to the statement.
The lawsuit is seeking $2,500 for every violation of the Unfair Business Practices Act.
Toyota officials declined to comment.
Related headlines
Experian launches fraud score program for small, midsize businesses
Court OKs Freedom reorganization plan
Iteris inks $1.1 million traffic-system management deal
Readers Feedback:
I find it strange that a company with Toyota's reputation for building quality vehicles finds itself under such fire for building "junk" Who would be the main benefactor of Toyota's failure?
I can think of one, the American car companies.
Very strange.
Comment at 3/12/2010
This is turning into a bloody witch hunt. I have talked to three independent auto mechanics who AGREE with Toyota that the accelerator "problem" may be more about individual situations rather than something systemic (e.g., problem with the electronics). One mechanic is dubious about Mr. Sikes' Wild Ride; believes that certain parts of the story simply do not bake well. Put succinctly, there's a whole lotta moving parts to this story. I would not be so anxious to charge in with such a public move as our trusty OC DA has recently committed.
Comment at 3/12/2010
So now we need the OC DA to protect us from the evils of the number 1 or 2 automaker? I would think the separate consumer lawsuits would be enough - So what does OC gain with this effort? Reputation for the DA? Settlement from Toyota to help fund OC legal coffers? I would think there would be a lot more relevant legal issues to focus on.
Comment at 3/12/2010
I'd back the OC D.A. if that $2500 was going to consumers who were "ripped off". Otherwise, it seems like a money-hungry county going after the wounded antelope. Didn't the State AG already get a settlement from Toyota? Oh, and it's nice of Toyota to be offering 0% financing to get new buyers now, but what about all of those who bought their cars and those have been devalued by this fiasco?!
Comment at 3/12/2010
Great, just what we need. Another political idiot who is trying to grab the headlines and advance his career in any way possible. Toyota is and always has been a company who prides themselves on quality and respect. This is a very unfortunate incident that by all reports they are trying to correct. The OC DA needs to focus his energies on the real criminals. Or is that the problem? He can't manage to do that effectively?
Comment at 3/13/2010
|
||||
|
Courtesy of Toyota The suit is being filed to prevent the automaker from harming the public through the sale of "defective vehicles and deceptive business practices." Rackauckas this morning announced the claim, which was filed with assistance from Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson in the Orange County Superior Court. This is the first in the U.S. to bring a consumer protection lawsuit against Toyota, according to a statement from Rackauckas posted on the office's Web site. "I feel it is the duty of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to protect the public and our consumers from unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices," he says. "I feel it is our duty to make sure Toyota is not gaining an unfair business advantage over other car companies who are not doing what Toyota is doing." Toyota has recalled about 6 million vehicles in the U.S. – and more than 8 million across the globe – due to problems associated with braking and acceleration in a number of models, including the Prius. Prosecutors are bringing forward a number of complaints on behalf of the people of Orange County. Among them: Toyota knowingly sold cars and trucks with defects that cause the autos to accelerate suddenly and uncontrollably. These defects exist in hundreds of thousands of Toyotas sold to Californians over the last several years. Rather than halt the sales of products in California until the problem was fixed, Toyota made the business decision to continue selling and leasing their defective products to Californians. Millions of California consumers have been harmed by owning or leasing defective Toyotas, which completely undermines the safety and reliability of the vehicles. For the full statement, click here. There have been 58 deaths attributed to unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles, according to the statement. The lawsuit is seeking $2,500 for every violation of the Unfair Business Practices Act. Toyota officials declined to comment. Related headlines Experian launches fraud score program for small, midsize businesses Court OKs Freedom reorganization plan Iteris inks $1.1 million traffic-system management deal |
||||
Readers Feedback:
I find it strange that a company with Toyota's reputation for building quality vehicles finds itself under such fire for building "junk" Who would be the main benefactor of Toyota's failure?
I can think of one, the American car companies.
Very strange.
| Comment at 3/12/2010 |
This is turning into a bloody witch hunt. I have talked to three independent auto mechanics who AGREE with Toyota that the accelerator "problem" may be more about individual situations rather than something systemic (e.g., problem with the electronics). One mechanic is dubious about Mr. Sikes' Wild Ride; believes that certain parts of the story simply do not bake well. Put succinctly, there's a whole lotta moving parts to this story. I would not be so anxious to charge in with such a public move as our trusty OC DA has recently committed.
| Comment at 3/12/2010 |
So now we need the OC DA to protect us from the evils of the number 1 or 2 automaker? I would think the separate consumer lawsuits would be enough - So what does OC gain with this effort? Reputation for the DA? Settlement from Toyota to help fund OC legal coffers? I would think there would be a lot more relevant legal issues to focus on.
| Comment at 3/12/2010 |
I'd back the OC D.A. if that $2500 was going to consumers who were "ripped off". Otherwise, it seems like a money-hungry county going after the wounded antelope. Didn't the State AG already get a settlement from Toyota? Oh, and it's nice of Toyota to be offering 0% financing to get new buyers now, but what about all of those who bought their cars and those have been devalued by this fiasco?!
| Comment at 3/12/2010 |
Great, just what we need. Another political idiot who is trying to grab the headlines and advance his career in any way possible. Toyota is and always has been a company who prides themselves on quality and respect. This is a very unfortunate incident that by all reports they are trying to correct. The OC DA needs to focus his energies on the real criminals. Or is that the problem? He can't manage to do that effectively?
| Comment at 3/13/2010 |
