Posted on 16th May 2010 by Gordon Johnson in Uncategorized
Judge James Selna, Toyota lawsuits, Toyota litigation, Toyota recall
A U.S. District Court judge Thursday held the first official hearing on 75 consolidated lawsuits stemming from the sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704635204575242590535122412.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection
Judge James Selna, sitting in Santa Ana, Calif., conceded that resolving the dozens of cases is daunting, but he added that it was a “doable task,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
One of the matters Selna will have to decide is which of the roughly 100 plaintiffs attorneys will take a lead role in the litigation. Those lawyers will share in an estimated $500 million in legal fees stemming from the cases, which make Toyota potentially liable for billions of dollars in damages.
The lawyers for Toyota recommended that the lawsuits be divided up depending on what the plaintiff alleges caused the sudden, and sometimes deadly, acceleration of the vehicles. Such reasons would include gas pedals getting stuck on mats and electronic bugs.
The judge was also warned that the court might have as evidence Japanese engineering documents that will be hard to translate into English.
So far Toyota has recalled 8 million vehicles around the world after the acceleration problem surfaced.
Selna didn’t make any decisions Thursday. On Wednesday, the judge surprised lawyers when he issued an order saying that he planned to the number of lawyers in key roles, according to The Journal.
The judge set the next hearings for May 28 and June 25.
Posted on 5th May 2010 by Gordon Johnson in Uncategorized
federal lawsuits, Judge James Selna, lawsuits, Toyota acceleration, Toyota litigation
The Wall Street Journal Wednesday continued its coverage of the battle behind the Toyota accleration lawsuits, namely, which attorneys will take the lead and profit most from the cases.
In a Page One story headlined “Lawyers Wrestle Over Driver’s Seat in Litigation Against Toyota,” The Journal reports that attorneys who represent plaintiffs against Toyota must filed applications with a judge in order to get the cherished spot heading up the ligitation for those who are suing. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704342604575222453681321376.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6
More than 75 federal lawsuits againt Toyota have been filed by more than 100 lawyers, according to The Journal.
The cases have been consolidated and will be heard before Judge James Selna in Santa Ana, Calif. He is the one getting the applications for lead counsel for the plaintiffs.
The first hearing on the consolidated cases is coming up, on May 13, and dozens of lawyers are eager to see who Selna will choose to take charge of the plaintiffs’ cases.
Toyota’s liability in the suits, which stem from sometimes deadly acceleration problems in cars like the Camry, could add up to billions of dollars. And The Journal estimates that only a few of the plaintiffs’ attorneys will get most of $500 million in fees for their legal work.
One attorney filed an application that is 114 pages, while another submitted an application with 13 exhibits, The Journal reported.
It’s a good inside story about the business of law.
Posted on 16th April 2010 by Gordon Johnson in Uncategorized
Judge James Selna, Toyota acceleration, Toyota acceleration problems, Toyota lawsuits, Toyota litigation
The judge who is presiding over the nearly 100 federal lawsuits against Toyota, which are being consolidated, has set a May 13 hearing on the case, according to The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304628704575186230332752408.html?mod=WSJ_auto_IndustryCollection
Federal Judge James Selna scheduled the initial hearing in the matter for his courtroom in Santa Ana, Calif. Dozens of attorneys for plaintiffs in the suits are expected to be in court for that session.
Some of the suits stem from deaths and injuries allegedly caused by the sudden acceleration of Toyota vehicles, while others seek compensation for the loss of value of their Toyotas because of the acceleration problems.
At this point, Selena has opted to consolidate the wrongful death and injury suits with the consumer suits, according to The Journal.
Lawyers are eagerly waiting to see who Selna will choose to lead the arguments in the cases against Toyota. The Journal estimated that anywhere from $200 million to $500 million in attorneys’ fees will be generated by the cases, and that only a few lawyers – the lead lawyers – will share in that money.
For the period leading up to the first hearing, Selna has picked three lawyers as temporary leads: Elizabeth Cabraser of San Francisco; Steve Berman of Seattle; and Marc Seltzer of Los Angeles.
The lead lawyer for Toyota is Cari Dawson.
Also this week, Toyota suspended sales of its 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV in both the Unites States and other countries after Consumer Reports magazine deemed the vehicle unsafe.
Toyota said it would also do safety tests not only the GX 460, but all of its SUVs. And the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also said it would run its own safety tests of the GX 460. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304510004575185983714141448.html?mod=WSJ_auto_IndustryCollection
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/16/business/16toyota.html?ref=business
