| Reports of deaths from sudden, unexpected | | | | to recover public confidence and Toyota's |
| acceleration, the nonstop recalls, and the | | | | reputation as a world leader in automotive design |
| precipitous drop in resale value for their vehicles | | | | and manufacturing. |
| has left Toyota and Lexus owners with two | | | | All California owners of Toyota and Lexus |
| serious injuries: a loss of trust in their vehicle, and | | | | vehicles, of any year, whether or not they have |
| a loss of the vehicle's value | | | | experienced unintended acceleration, are eligible to |
| Many owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles no | | | | join this class action lawsuit. |
| longer feel comfortable driving them. Although | | | | A class action is a lawsuit in which a group of |
| Toyota insists that accelerator pedals sticking is a | | | | people who have suffered similar injury file suit |
| rare occurrence, every Toyota and Lexus owner | | | | against the individual or corporation who has |
| now knows too well the fear and uncertainty, and | | | | harmed them as a class. Class actions are |
| the risk that their vehicle could unexpectedly | | | | particularly helpful for plaintiffs, the people who |
| become a lethal missile with the potential to kill or | | | | have been injured, because suing a large |
| injure drivers, passengers, and any person or | | | | multinational corporation such as Toyota, which |
| vehicle in its path. | | | | has enormous financial resources, can be very |
| Toyota and Lexus owners have also incurred | | | | expensive. Most individuals simply cannot fight this |
| significant financial losses. As more reports of | | | | kind of fight. When plaintiffs band together as a |
| crashes, injuries and fatalities were made public, | | | | class, their combined influence can level the playing |
| and as the recalls, now involving over 8 million | | | | field. |
| cars, increased and as Toyota's story kept | | | | Lawyers In a class action make an agreement |
| changing with no reliable solution in place, owners | | | | with the individual participants that no fees will be |
| have seen a steady erosion in the value of their | | | | due up front. The lawyers file the suit, do the |
| cars. By February 2010, demand for both new | | | | extensive research and investigation that a major |
| and used Toyotas and Lexus vehicles has | | | | case requires, consult with expert witnesses, and |
| dropped sharply. Owners who wanted to sell or | | | | prepare the case for trial, with the agreement |
| trade their vehicles were quoted prices that | | | | that their fees will come out of the final |
| reflected precipitous declines in their resale value in | | | | settlement. Class action lawyers get paid only if |
| a matter of months. For most people, their car or | | | | they resolve the suit successfully, either through |
| truck is a substantial financial investment, and a | | | | negotiation or trial. |
| large decrease in the value of that investment | | | | This class action filed in California Superior Court |
| can mean a serious financial loss. | | | | enjoys significant advantages over the federal |
| Now California resident Toyota and Lexus owners | | | | class action suit. California law embodies very |
| can fight back. A class action lawsuit filed in March | | | | substantial consumer protections, much stronger |
| 2010 in California Superior Court seeks restitution | | | | than those in federal law. The California Superior |
| on behalf of all Toyota and Lexus owners who | | | | Court suit will be tried under California state law, |
| are California residents, for the financial losses | | | | where these stronger consumer protections apply. |
| they have suffered because of their vehicles' loss | | | | The federal suit consolidates more than 100 |
| of value. | | | | lawsuits from many different states, many of |
| The suit has been filed by four consumer law | | | | whose laws have specific requirements. Some of |
| firms in Southern California. Their goal in filing this | | | | those state laws conflict with each other, and the |
| lawsuit is not to bring Toyota to its knees, but to | | | | federal court will have to spend weeks and |
| seek just and reasonable compensation for | | | | months sorting out and resolving these conflicting |
| California vehicle owners who have been financially | | | | requirements. By contrast, all parties to the |
| injured by the company's actions. The consumer | | | | California suit are California residents, governed by |
| attorneys involved feel that the best outcome | | | | the same state law. The California suit is likely to |
| would be financial restitution for owners, and for | | | | move much faster to trial, possibly as early as |
| Toyota to improve their vehicles' designs, so as | | | | spring of 2011, and then to resolution. |