Ex-Toyota Lawyer's Battle Over Documents Could Rev Up Other Cases Against Automaker
As plaintiffs attorneys lick their chops over Toyota Motor Corp.’s sudden-acceleration crisis, a former lawyer for the automaker is awaiting a ruling that could add further impetus to an onslaught of litigation against Toyota.
Attorney Dimitrios Biller, who until 2007 defended products liability cases against Toyota, is involved in what the Los Angeles Times describes as a “tangle” of federal and state court litigation against Toyota. Front and center right now, however, is a ruling that is expected shortly from a California arbitrator concerning some 6,000 documents that Biller says show Toyota fraudulently withheld products liability evidence.
Although the documents, if made public, may not be relevant to the sudden-acceleration cases, they could result in the reopening of long-closed cases against Toyota and damage the automaker’s credibility, the newspaper says.
A company spokeswoman says Biller is legally bound not to reveal documents he obtained while employed by Toyota.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Lawsuit Accusing Toyota of Destroying Evidence Is Headed for Arbitration”
ABAJournal.com: “Toyota Whistle-Blower Lawyer Is Dogged and ‘Heavily Medicated”
ABAJournal.com: “Plaintiffs Lawyers Consider Injury, Economic Loss Claims Against Toyota”
ABAJournal.com: “Transportation Chief Mulls Toyota Civil Penalty, Warns Against Driving Recalled Cars”
Independent: “In Toyota City, recalls blamed on foreign parts makers”
