This is interesting... I saw another suit charging Toyota...

Suit charges Toyota concealed data

Thursday, September 17, 2009

A dispute between the world's largest car maker and legal representatives for families and individuals who claim Toyota vehicles caused death or injury could be settled in U.S. Federal Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Dallas attorney Todd Tracy filed a lawsuit against Toyota this past week in the Marshall federal court, alleging fraud and racketeering for concealing wreck data from the courts and federal safety regulators.

The lawsuit seeks to reopen 16 cases and accuses Toyota of engaging in a pattern of discovery abuse, Tracy said.

Toyota said it stands by the safety of its vehicles, and the claims are unfounded, according to a company statement.

California lawyer Dimitrios Biller played an instrumental role for Toyota's legal department in settling wreck cases across the country, Tracy said. Now, the former Toyota attorney, in a federal lawsuit filed in California, accuses his old employer of destroying crash testing information that should have been handed over to victims in about 300 rollover wrecks, Tracy said.

Toyota countered Tracy's Texas lawsuit, stating that Biller's claims are false and violate the terms of his severance package with the automaker. Tracy says Toyota's statement demeans Biller as a vindictive and sue-happy ex-employee.

Robert Riggs, publicist for Tracy's law firm, said he expects a number of additional people to join the lawsuit.

"There won't be a trial, but a hearing with the judge to determine if an exemption can be exercised in attorney-client privilege," Riggs said, adding such an exemption can be granted in cases like that between Biller and Toyota if fraud can be determined.

Tracy says none of the victims in his 16 cases would have accepted a settlement if they had any hint that Toyota was holding back information.
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