News and Information:
In the News:
California Judge approves discovery plan in lawsuits over alleged Toyota defects
Associated Press
July 20, 2010
SANTA ANA, CALIF. — A federal judge approved a plan Tuesday to share information in the sprawling litigation involving alleged defects in some Toyota vehicles.
U.S. District Judge James Selna signed the order to begin the first phase of discovery, in which attorneys for the plaintiffs and the Japanese automaker can begin exchanging documents and taking depositions.
The plan gives both sides a 100-day window for the process. (Read Entire Article)
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Toyota Sudden Acceleration News & Background Information:
In light of all the sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) claims and related recalls involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles, there is an abundance of published literature available on the subject matter and a large amount of media attention has been focused on the subject in the last several months. However, the allegations of SUA problems have actually been emerging for nearly a decade. Consumer complaints filed with the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) alleging sudden unintended acceleration began to show up with a notable increasing frequency in the early 2000’s related to the 2002-2003 model year Toyota Camry and Lexus ES 300 vehicles, coincident with the introduction of Toyota’s Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) system. Several NHTSA defect investigations regarding these earlier Toyota SUA issues never resulted in any corrective actions; perhaps in large part due to limited resources and funding cuts at the federal traffic safety agency. (MORE ... Read Entire Article)
Posted by Christopher Gayner, June 7, 2010
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New auto safety legislation is in the works by the U.S. Congress in the aftermath of Toyota’s recent safety dilemmas concerning vehicle sudden acceleration claims. Two new safety regulations on the table address the implementation of brake override systems and standards for event data recorders (also known as black box accident data recorders). Also being debated by Congress is the proposal to increase fines for automakers that fail to report safety defects.
Source: Automotive News, May 10,2010.
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Articles:
"Legislation regulating transportation safety is saving lives and reducing serious injuries in motor vehicle collisions year after year. In 1966 the U.S. Congress passed the Highway Safety Act, which led to the formation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The 40th anniversaries of these events recently passed unbeknownst to most people, yet the ongoing societal benefits give cause for reflection and recognition of the thousands of lives saved and .... " (MORE ... Read Entire Article).
Source: Christopher Gayner, MSME, San Luis Obispo County Bar Bulletin
Words of Wisdom:
"Always tell the truth. That way you don't have to remember what you said."
Mark Twain
"Concern for man and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors ... Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations."
Albert Einstein
"When I am working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know that it is wrong."
Buckminster Fuller
