By GREG RISLING - Associated Press Writer - Associated Press
Friday, March 12, 2010
Prosecutors in Orange County, Calif., have filed a lawsuit against Toyota because of continuing problems with its vehicles.
The district attorney's office accuses the automaker of knowingly selling hundreds of thousands of vehicles with acceleration defects. The office says it has the right to bring consumer protective action on behalf of Orange County residents.
Toyota spokesman Mike Michels says he has no comment because the company hasn't been served with the lawsuit.
Toyota Motor Corp. has recalled more than 6 million in the United States because of acceleration problems in multiple models and braking issues in the Prius hybrid. Regulators have linked 52 deaths to crashes allegedly caused by accelerator problems.
At least 89 class-action lawsuits have been filed against the Japanese auto giant, which could cost it $3 billion or more.