Toyota cleared in NY car acceleration case
Source: Agencies |
April 3, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A NEW York federal jury on Friday found Toyota Motor Corp not responsible for a 2005 crash that the driver blamed on the floor mat or the electronic throttle, in the first case to go to trial since the automaker recalled millions of its vehicles.
After 45 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Toyota was not liable for product liability for the Scion's floor mat or for the absence of a system that allows the brake to override the accelerator when both are pressed.
The car's driver, 59-year-old Long Island physician Amir Sitafalwala, contended that defects in the electronic throttle system or the floor mats caused him to suddenly accelerate and crash into a tree. US Magistrate Judge Thomas Boyle ruled out evidence about the car's electronics earlier this week.
Sitafalwala's 2008 lawsuit was the first to go to trial since Toyota recalled millions of autos beginning in 2009.
In a written statement, Toyota called the verdict an "early indicator of the strength of the legal theories behind unintended acceleration claims" against it. "We believe that this case sets an important benchmark for unintended acceleration litigation against Toyota across this country."
Toyota has recalled more than 14 million vehicles globally to fix gas pedals and other safety problems, including more than 2 million that were recalled in February to address accelerator pedals that could become entrapped in floor mats or jammed in driver's side carpeting.
The company has paid the US government a record US$48.8 million in fines.
US regulators said earlier that electronic flaws were not to blame for reports of sudden, unintended acceleration.
After 45 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Toyota was not liable for product liability for the Scion's floor mat or for the absence of a system that allows the brake to override the accelerator when both are pressed.
The car's driver, 59-year-old Long Island physician Amir Sitafalwala, contended that defects in the electronic throttle system or the floor mats caused him to suddenly accelerate and crash into a tree. US Magistrate Judge Thomas Boyle ruled out evidence about the car's electronics earlier this week.
Sitafalwala's 2008 lawsuit was the first to go to trial since Toyota recalled millions of autos beginning in 2009.
In a written statement, Toyota called the verdict an "early indicator of the strength of the legal theories behind unintended acceleration claims" against it. "We believe that this case sets an important benchmark for unintended acceleration litigation against Toyota across this country."
Toyota has recalled more than 14 million vehicles globally to fix gas pedals and other safety problems, including more than 2 million that were recalled in February to address accelerator pedals that could become entrapped in floor mats or jammed in driver's side carpeting.
The company has paid the US government a record US$48.8 million in fines.
US regulators said earlier that electronic flaws were not to blame for reports of sudden, unintended acceleration.
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