Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Toyota Accused of Hiding Evidence
CBS ^ | 1 September 2009 | Myron Levin

Posted on 09/01/2009 1:03:40 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi

A former attorney for Toyota has accused the automaker of illegally withholding evidence in hundreds of rollover death and injury cases, in a "ruthless conspiracy" to keep evidence "of its vehicles' structural shortcomings from becoming known."

The explosive allegations are contained in a federal racketeering suit filed in Los Angeles by Dimitrios P. Biller, former managing counsel for Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., who claims his complaints about the company's legal misconduct cost him his job.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption
KEYWORDS: lawsuits; rollover; toyota
It is well-known that the Japanese have hid defects in automobiles for years. This is just more of the same.
1 posted on 09/01/2009 1:03:41 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi

Well one difference now is this: How can they rely on a fair trial when it’s federal prosecution in a federal court and 2 of their competitors are at least partially owned by the federal gvt?


2 posted on 09/01/2009 1:06:24 PM PDT by Pessimist (u)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pessimist

Wow, talk about opening a can of worms!


3 posted on 09/01/2009 1:09:41 PM PDT by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi
A former attorney for Toyota has accused the automaker of illegally withholding evidence in hundreds of rollover death and injury cases, in a "ruthless conspiracy" to keep evidence "of its vehicles' structural shortcomings from becoming known."

Oh please...If this is about the Toyota Land Cruiser, those things are no more likely to tip over than your average bicycle...

4 posted on 09/01/2009 1:18:03 PM PDT by Onelifetogive (Liberals are always one genocide away from Utopia.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pessimist

“Biller’s lawsuit also notes that he has a separate wrongful termination claim against the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office,”


5 posted on 09/01/2009 1:27:46 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra

Generally people fire whistle blowers.


6 posted on 09/01/2009 1:32:47 PM PDT by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi
I love my Toyota. I would trust it in a rollover over any American made car. Remember the Pinto gas tanks and the GM truck gas tanks? This whole story reeks of a disgruntled former employee who has an ax to grind over his termination due to his incompetence.
7 posted on 09/01/2009 1:43:12 PM PDT by HwyChile
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HwyChile
the GM truck gas tanks

Exploding GM truck gas tanks was a hoax perpetrated on the people by the disgraced head of NBC "News". They attached toy rocket engines to the gas tanks for ignitors and then rammed the trucks so that the tanks ruptured. The last I heard that liberal weasel was the editor of a newspaper in a small Iowa town. He should be in jail for that kind of fraud.

8 posted on 09/01/2009 1:48:50 PM PDT by Hardastarboard (I long for the days when advertisers didn't constantly ask about the health of my genital organs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi

“A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don’t do one. “


9 posted on 09/01/2009 2:03:00 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi

Sounds to me like Government Motors is paying someone to rat out the competition, especially since the clunkers program proved to be such a bust for GM and Chrysler.


10 posted on 09/01/2009 2:25:44 PM PDT by calex59
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi
I'd still buy a Toyota or rather a Lexus over ANY given American brand on the market.

One has to wonder how many reports on GM and Chrysler defects will slip out now that Uncle Sugar runs them?

Based on obvious evidence and not media-generated crap, I probably will never change my preference.

11 posted on 09/01/2009 2:52:02 PM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi
"It is well-known that the Japanese have hid defects in automobiles for years. This is just more of the same."

I'll dispense with the usual 'Aw, jeez - not this cr@p again' graphic, but I'm ALWAYS skeptical of any argument that includes any variation on the 'everybody knows' clause.
12 posted on 09/01/2009 3:05:17 PM PDT by Quality_Not_Quantity (A half-truth masquerading as the whole truth becomes a complete untruth. (J.I. Packer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HwyChile

This whole story reeks of a disgruntled former employee who has an ax to grind over his termination due to his incompetence.


Have you considered other possibilities?
1. Shakedown attempt
2. government collusion setting up conditions to advance government motors (GM & the cheap brand) over Toyota.


13 posted on 09/01/2009 3:45:28 PM PDT by Joan Kerrey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Erik Latranyi

Since when did we use attorneys from car manufactures to discover defects. Over zealous ambulance chasing attorneys have a purpose and will flush out things that aren’t true and even some things that are true from time to time.


14 posted on 09/01/2009 3:53:19 PM PDT by ThomasThomas (Your It.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: norraad

What I find amusing is the number of Freepers that take Toyota’s side without question....eerily similar to some people we know who support Obama..

I don’t know if this story is true or not, but to blindly dismiss either side is not reasonable.


15 posted on 09/01/2009 6:09:42 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson