Toyota paid off plaintiffs, hid internal documents to avoid lawsuits

The news just keeps getting worse for Toyota.  Our Houston Toyota recall lawyers were disturbed to hear that the automaker is facing fresh allegations of wrongdoing in regards to the unintended acceleration problem with their vehicles.

 

News reports today claim that Toyota withheld documents that they legally should handed over in liability lawsuits and even paid off plaintiffs to avoid revealing internal company information.  According to the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Toyota withheld information in their “Books of Knowledge” which could have provided critical information in lawsuits filed against the auto giant.

 

This news comes courtesy of one of Toyota’s former lawyers, who decided now to speak out against the company.  House Representative Edolphus Towns stated that the information, obtained under subpoena from the aforementioned lawyer, indicates “a systematic disregard for the law and routine violation of court discovery orders in litigation.”

 

The whistle-blowing lawyer represented Toyota from 2003 to 2007 in liability cases involving Toyota drivers injured in accidents. According to this attorney, Toyota’s Books of Knowledge contain highly confidential information like trade secrets.  Detailed design specifications for all Toyota’s vehicles are described in these books, which could be an astounding resource for investigators examining vehicles involved in the recent recalls.

 

As more and more internal documents surface, the depth and breadth of Toyota’s disregard for the safety of its customers and the general driving public is shocking.  Now it is time for them to face justice in the American courts.