SAN DIEGO—
California's first class action lawsuit against toyota was filed today in San Diego. There will be two plaintiffs representing every consumer in the California including Carlsbad resident, Bob Binder."What I want them to do for everybody is stop making excuses," said Binder.
Nine years ago when Binder bought a 2001 Lexus RX 300, he wasn't a happy customer. He says he had problems from the start.
"As I'm taking my foot off the accelerator and the break, the car leaped forward, jumping and knocking over the sign," said Binder.
Thats when he took his car in for service but was turned away. He says Toyota claimed there was no issue with the car. Nine years later, Binder is taking part in the first class action lawsuit filed in san diego county superior court.
"Each owner have suffered economic hardship," said Attorney Bill Turley.
Turley says this case is different from others being filed across the Country which involves floor mats or faulty gas petals. He says the basis of this lawsuit, how the massive safety recall is causing car values to drop.
"We filed in state court in order to protect the value and rights of California Lexus and Toyota owners," said Turley.
Tierra Santa resident Laura Paulson needs protection. She's tried to trade in her 2008 Toyota Tocoma but was told she would lose more than half of what she paid for.
"All these people need is the best prosecution they can get. That is why we filed it in California state court, that is why there are so many lawyers involved, those of us who've done this type of litigation know it take a village, it takes a team," said another attorney.
Paulson and Binder will represent every Toyota consumer in the state. We tried several times to get a hold of the Toyota Corporation over the phone but no one returned our call.
