A U.S. jury found Toyota not guilty for a 2009 accident that killed a 66-year-old woman who crashed her 2006 Camry into a tree after it accelerated out of control. California’s Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding (JCCP) rejected claims that the Camry was defective because it lacked a brake override system.
After four and a half days of deliberating, the jury ruled in favor of Toyota in the case brought by the family of Noriko Uno, who claimed that the accident would have been averted if the car had been outfitted with brake override.
The jury found guilty the driver of another vehicle that had crashed into Uno’s car before she lost control of the Camry. The driver will have to pay $10 million (€7.38 million) in damages to Uno’s husband and son, but his lawyer said they would appeal the decision.
The Uno case was selected as a bellwether by the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in the JCCP for about 85 personal-injury and wrongful-death lawsuits in California state court that were brought against Toyota following the 2009 and 2010 recalls. The 2006 Toyota Camry wasn’t included in the recalls for unintended acceleration issues.
“We sympathize with anyone in an accident involving one of our vehicles as well as the family and friends of Noriko Uno. Regarding the verdict, we are gratified that the jury concluded the design of the 2006 Camry did not contribute to this unfortunate accident, affirming the same conclusion we reached after more than three years of careful investigation – that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle at issue in this case,” Toyota said in a statement.
“As an important bellwether in these consolidated state proceedings, we believe this verdict sets a significant benchmark by helping further confirm that Toyota vehicles are safe with or without brake override,” the carmaker added.
By Dan Mihalascu
PHOTO GALLERY
