A judge in Oklahoma found responsible for an accident of 2007 involuntary acceleration with a 2005 Toyota Camry, which resulted in the death of the passengers and a conductor injured Toyota.
The decision represents first court loss for the Japanese car manufacturer in a case of unintended acceleration. Toyota will have to pay compensation of $1.5 million to Jean Bookout, driver injured in the accident, and $1.5 million to the family of the deceased passenger Barbara Schwartz. The verdict comes shortly after Toyota won a leading case in California.
The jury also decided that Toyota acted with "disregard" for the safety of the public. However, said Oklahoma County District Judge Patricia Parrish, to jurors not be deliberating additional punitive damages. That's because the plaintiff lawyers said that they had reached an agreement with Toyota for an undisclosed amount that covers both damage and possible punitive gains.
Despite the ruling, Toyota continues to deny that he was guilty. "While we strongly disagree with the verdict, we are pleased that the parties reached a mutually acceptable agreement to solve this case." We remain committed to providing our customers with safe and reliable vehicle, and we will continue to vigorously defend our products on trial in legal elsewhere, "read the statement from the company on Friday.
Toyota has already agreed to pay $1.4 billion to settle a class action lawsuit by car owners who saw the resale value of their cars decline. A little more than half of the sum was spent on installing a brake override system in affected vehicles. However, that agreement does not cover the cases that resulted in injury or death. According to financial documents, Toyota still faces more than 700 cases of unintended acceleration.
By Dan Mihalascu
The story references: CNN
Thanks to George for the tip!
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