Southern California court gets Toyota lawsuits

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By CURT ANDERSON

MIAMI (AP) - A panel of federal judges on Friday chose Southern California federal court as the location to consolidate dozens of lawsuits filed in the aftermath of Toyota's recall of millions of vehicles over sudden unexpected acceleration problems.

The decision by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralizes more than 200 lawsuits against Toyota around the country before U.S. District Judge James V. Selna, a 2003 appointee of former President George W. Bush.

Selna, 65, whose court is located near Los Angeles in Orange County, Calif., will hear important pretrial motions for all cases, eventually leading to trial, settlement or dismissal of the lawsuits.

Attorney Mark Robinson Jr., who practices in Orange County and is representing Toyota owners in some of the cases, said Selna has broad experience with more than 28 years as a practicing lawyer before his appointment to the federal bench.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100409/D9EVOR4O0.html