Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Toyota Goes to Court

Toyota Motor Corp. goes before a jury for the first time in a lawsuit over a claim that unexpected acceleration of one of its cars caused a death.

Opening statements are scheduled to start as early as today in California state court in Los Angeles, where about 85 personal-injury and wrongful-death acceleration cases have been consolidated.

The suit being tried, filed by the husband and son of a woman who died in a crash, is a bellwether whose outcome may point the way to out-of-court resolution of others.

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TheSteve - 8/7/2013 3:55:43 PM

+3 Boost

I thought we've already done this one. Let me recap, for reader's enjoyment:

- A number of people allege that Toyota cars accelerated unintentionally.

- Some people actually died, allegedly due to this alleged unintentional acceleration.

- Media frenzy ensues with lots of publicity, and public condemnation of Toyota. Some "experts" demonstrate how the unintended acceleration COULD have happened using rigged up demos. This speculation is interpreted as facts by viewing audiences.

- CSIs (Crime Scene Investigators) found nothing in Toyota cars that caused the alleged unintentional acceleration.

- The federal government, in numerous inquiries, found no cause.

- Believing that Toyota's "drive by wire" accelerator software MIGHT be at fault, NASA is engaged and analyzes it in detail. They find no fault. These are fricken' rocket scientists know enough about software and code testing to run space programs, so their qualifications are beyond question.

- The feds, looking for a witch to burn, demand that Toyota "fix the problem," in spite of the fact that nobody, including NASA, can find any problem in Toyota cars! Still, the feds are relentless, demanding Toyota do something. Toyota agrees as a condition of the inquisitions ceasing, so they have a recall and make some changes, just to appease the feds and make the witch hunt go away. The feds stop burning Toyota execs at the stake, even though no fault was ever found.

- Nobody has ever found any fault on Toyota's part that actually caused the alleged unintentional acceleration. Nobody! In spite of this, some of the population still cling to the belief that Toyota must be at fault, in spite of the absolute lack of evidence to support this belief.

- The conclusion of the cause of the alleged problem was "pedal misapplication." Translated into English: The driver was mashing the accelerator while BELIEVING they were standing on the brake. This is consistent with the testimony of the alleged victims, with CSI's findings, with all government inquisitions, and with NASA. You'd think the matter would be closed. Nope.

In spite of this, some lawyers choose to line their pockets by allowing their clients to believe they have a chance at winning this court case.

For readers who are old enough to remember, this is a replay of what happened with Audi and the unintended acceleration claims made against them. Same allegations. Same mass hysteria. Similar investigation by government and third parties. Same conclusion: "Pedal Misapplication."

It seems we didn't learn the first time around.

absent - 8/8/2013 4:52:42 PM

-1 Boost

I remember when we went through the same BULLSHIT back in 1986 when the witch hunt was on Audi.
Same idiotic accusation,same idiotic lawsuits.
Are these people really that retarded???

HughJass - 8/10/2013 7:28:33 PM

+1 Boost

I love the American legal system. What is "wrongful death"? Is there a "rightful death" because I can think of some people I'd like to apply that one to.