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mastermariner Champion Author Texas Posts:4,236 Points:492,035 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 10:39:54 AM Ignore mastermariner Report Abuse LOS ANGELES (AP) -- As Toyota Motor Corp. chips away at settling lawsuits claiming its vehicles suddenly accelerate, the question remains whether attorneys who sued could prove to a jury there was a design flaw. The company maintains stuck accelerator pedals, faulty floor mats and driver error are the reasons for vehicles unexpectedly surging, while plaintiffs' attorneys contend Toyota's electronic throttle control system is to blame. Recent settlements totaling more than $1 billion by Toyota to resolve numerous lawsuits involving economic loss and a few involving wrongful death claims may signal that the automaker doesn't want to risk coming out on the losing end of a potentially costly court decision. "A bad loss in a jury trial would inflict lasting damage to Toyota in loss of public Visit AP for full article

mastermariner

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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- As Toyota Motor Corp. chips away at settling lawsuits claiming its vehicles suddenly accelerate, the question remains whether attorneys who sued could prove to a jury there was a design flaw.
The company maintains stuck accelerator pedals, faulty floor mats and driver error are the reasons for vehicles unexpectedly surging, while plaintiffs' attorneys contend Toyota's electronic throttle control system is to blame.
Recent settlements totaling more than $1 billion by Toyota to resolve numerous lawsuits involving economic loss and a few involving wrongful death claims may signal that the automaker doesn't want to risk coming out on the losing end of a potentially costly court decision.

"A bad loss in a jury trial would inflict lasting damage to Toyota in loss of public
Visit AP for full article

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

DrCashFlow Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:7,059 Points:1,624,400 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jan 21, 2013 12:54:15 AM Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse it's all about the money
sciotosix Champion Author Dayton Posts:2,734 Points:663,200 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 5:05:51 PM Ignore sciotosix Report Abuse Sounds like Toyota is more worried about "buying" loyalty.
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:6,748 Points:1,861,325 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 12:11:30 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse Those who build UNSAFE LEAN LINE LEMONS will need a good size legal staff !!!
lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,022 Points:697,980 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:26:22 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse They are still selling well.
LostInNY Champion Author New York Posts:1,700 Points:644,145 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:25:03 PM Ignore LostInNY Report Abuse just pay and be done with it
cmgodwin All-Star Author Raleigh Posts:900 Points:280,175 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:22:26 PM Ignore cmgodwin Report Abuse A big loss would definitely hurt their image
amerk73 Champion Author Dallas Posts:7,030 Points:1,618,055 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:10:24 PM Ignore amerk73 Report Abuse they don't know what they can do
alterman156 Champion Author New York Posts:7,470 Points:1,553,750 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 10:14:07 PM Ignore alterman156 Report Abuse Toyota is paying for their problems.
rasprout Champion Author Tacoma Posts:3,367 Points:1,218,935 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 10:14:04 PM Ignore rasprout Report Abuse They should have recognized the problems when they began instead of covering it up and not fixing it.
Jeff1944 Champion Author South Dakota Posts:4,217 Points:1,070,705 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 10:01:44 PM Ignore Jeff1944 Report Abuse Since Toyota for years ignored information requests from the plaintiff' attorneys, Toyota top officials who made those decisions should go to prison just like the Madoff and Enron officials.
ObieDog Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,956 Points:848,345 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 9:55:25 PM Ignore ObieDog Report Abuse I had a problem on an 88 Mazda pickup. Taking it out of gear allowed me to get safely off the road.
rcornel All-Star Author San Diego Posts:714 Points:224,695 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 8:22:32 PM Ignore rcornel Report Abuse Interesting....
1momsunshine Champion Author Ottawa Posts:5,475 Points:997,555 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 8:01:48 PM Ignore 1momsunshine Report Abuse ok
mike56MI Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,200 Points:304,340 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 7:01:45 PM Ignore mike56MI Report Abuse OK
leemun Champion Author Utah Posts:5,513 Points:1,036,125 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 6:52:32 PM Ignore leemun Report Abuse Just a huge legal scam by phony plaintiffs. Kind of like suing Budweiser because you were drunk and got in an accident. Settling is not an admission of anything, it's just cheaper to settle than battle it out in court, where the big winners are the lawyers.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,247 Points:1,738,780 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:24:08 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse There needs to be a physical off switch.
Straitliner Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,480 Points:235,350 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 4:11:56 PM Ignore Straitliner Report Abuse Driver error, means buying one in the first place.
coughlin Champion Author San Jose Posts:5,170 Points:1,114,940 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 3:36:31 PM Ignore coughlin Report Abuse It was cheaper to settle.
tnfran Champion Author Arizona Posts:4,363 Points:839,165 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 3:11:32 PM Ignore tnfran Report Abuse This a good reason I think why ignition keys instead of "start buttons" should be in cars. Case in point - can a vehicle be shut down if an accelerator gets stuck when there is no key to turn off.
Wally3023 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,014 Points:536,355 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 3:01:29 PM Ignore Wally3023 Report Abuse Deep pockets will lose every time.
skinsfan125 Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,549 Points:279,740 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 2:04:25 PM Ignore skinsfan125 Report Abuse see what happens when you try to cut corners.
Zing20 All-Star Author Fresno Posts:692 Points:169,105 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 12:54:47 PM Ignore Zing20 Report Abuse I don't buy Toyota's argument, they settle because they know they'd lose in court.
gumbyrex Champion Author Fresno Posts:3,281 Points:755,290 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 12:22:38 PM Ignore gumbyrex Report Abuse In the end, who ultimately bears the cost?
bluetruck54 Champion Author Quad Cities Posts:1,453 Points:439,760 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:59:04 AM Ignore bluetruck54 Report Abuse strategy = law suit
CityCouponer All-Star Author New Orleans Posts:918 Points:198,105 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:56:07 AM Ignore CityCouponer Report Abuse Hmmm???
FortVancouver01 Champion Author Washington Posts:1,160 Points:284,495 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:48:04 AM Ignore FortVancouver01 Report Abuse I just find it interesting that my Ford had the same problem 20 years ago and there were no jury trials or law suits, not even a recall.
bouncing4fun All-Star Author Sacramento Posts:587 Points:144,990 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:38:33 AM Ignore bouncing4fun Report Abuse Interesting
Ticoman54 Champion Author Miami Posts:7,026 Points:1,488,020 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:36:20 AM Ignore Ticoman54 Report Abuse "A bad loss in a jury trial would inflict lasting damage to Toyota in loss of public confidence." In my opinion, Toyota lost my trust when they decided to sweep this issue under the carpet and not take full responsibility. Whether they win any trial is of least concern to me.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,086 Points:2,368,445 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 11:19:17 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse that must be "pay up and move on"
bcline909 Veteran Author Virginia Posts:401 Points:80,170 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Jan 19, 2013 10:45:53 AM Ignore bcline909 Report Abuse hmm