Class action lawsuit
Toyota has recalled more than 9 million vehicles worldwide amid concerns of sudden unintended acceleration
On Feb. 4, 2010, Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., filed a complaint seeking class action status on behalf of over 5 million Toyota owners whose vehicles have been recalled by Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court Southern District of Florida against Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Sales, USA Inc.
The complaint charges Toyota with breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment and breach of the covenant of good faith and alleges that Toyota has downplayed or dismissed owner complaints of sudden unintended acceleration, blaming it on driver error.
Dee Miles, who heads Beasley Allen‘s consumer fraud and class action department, will be working with lawyers Brian W. Smith in Florida, Joe R. Whatley in New York and Howard Rubinstein in Colorado.
“The complaint seeks justice for those people who rely on their vehicle for their livelihood, those who are making payments on an automobile that they are afraid to drive and those who have made payments on a car that they believed would last for many years and maintain value” says Dee Miles.
According to Sean Kane, an independent automotive safety expert and founder of Safety Research and Strategies, Inc. says that 19 deaths and 341 injuries can be attributed to 815 separate crashes involving Toyotas that had accelerated suddenly and unexpectedly. 2,262 incidents involving unintended acceleration have been reported since 1999.
The makes and models in the various recalls include the 2005-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 Camry, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2004-2009 Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2009-2010 RAV4, 2007-2010 Tundra, 2009-2010 VENZA and 2008-2010 Sequoia.
On February 3, 2010 Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Toyota owners they should not drive their recalled vehicles. Secretary LaHood later recanted his statement, however millions of Toyota owners have been left worried that their vehicles are potential deathtraps.
The Beasley Allen firm is also handling individual product liability lawsuits where deaths and disabling injuries are involved.
A similar complaint also was filed in the United States District Court Middle District of Alabama on Feb. 5.
Read the Toyota class action FL
Read the Toyota class action AL
Do you have a claim?
If you are the owner of a recalled Toyota vehicle, you will automatically be included in the class action lawsuit, should a class be certified. You will be mailed a notice of the lawsuit with further instructions at that time.
Beasley Allen also is handling individual product liability lawsuits for Toyota sudden unintended acceleration claims where deaths and disabling injuries are involved. If you or a loved one has suffered a serious injury or if a loved one has died as the result of unintended acceleration, you may be entitled to compensation. For a free legal consultation, contact us today!