Toyota Lawsuit Update: Prius Brake Cases Could be Combined Into Multidistrict Litigation
Over a dozen lawsuits filed over defective brakes on the Toyota Prius may be consolidated before a single judge in multidistrict litigation (MDL).
The lawsuits seek to recover for economic damages, i.e. the loss in retail value of a car with working brakes versus defective brakes, and also allege that drivers experienced stopping or slowing down while traveling on rough or wet roads, Law.com reports.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that it has received 124 complaints from consumers, including reports of four crashes potentially caused by the defects. There are currently about a dozen cases filed, including cases filed in Alabama, California, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and Texas. Because the cases are all similar an MDL proceeding is being considered.
Legal analysis by Shawn Cantley , Shawn's Mail:
An MDL is similar to a class action case in that cases are combined and heard before a single judge for the purposes of discovery and pretrial matters. The major difference is that once those matters have been concluded the cases return home to their original districts for trial or settlement. In other words, the cases are consolidated to make pre-trial preparation more efficient but each case ultimately stands on its own.
As always, we will keep you updated as the cases continue to develop. If you or someone you know may have problems with your Toyota Prius Hybrid brakes, consider speaking with a products liability attorney. They may be able to help you recover damages for any injuries you have suffered as well as compensation for the injured retail value of your vehicle. The attorneys of Bahe Cook Cantley & Nefzger, PLC are actively litigating Toyota cases and would be happy to speak with you.
