L.A. City Attorney getting into the Toyota fray

CITY ATTORNEY LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO TOYOTA PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARDS

Consumers Urged to Contact the City Attorney With Information

LOS ANGELES - The City Attorney's Complex Litigation Unit announced today that it has launched a preliminary investigation and is seeking additional information from the public into potential public safety hazards caused by sudden unintended acceleration, breaking and steering problems affecting certain models of Toyota and Lexus automobiles. The investigation is being headed by Chief Assistant City Attorney Jeffrey Isaacs, Deputy Chief of the Special Operations and Litigation Division.

Members of the public who have been impacted by vehicle malfunctions and have purchased a new or used Toyota or Lexus automobile between January 1, 2000 and the present, and resided within the City of Los Angeles at the time of purchase, are urged to visit the City Attorney's website at www.atty.lacity.org for additional information regarding the inquiry. Consumers can also email the City Attorney at atty.toyotainvestigation@lacity.org.

Impacted consumers who purchased a Toyota or Lexus vehicle at a dealership located within the City of Los Angeles, or were injured as a result of an accident involving a Toyota or Lexus vehicle within the City of Los Angeles, are also urged to contact the City Attorney's Office in order to provide information relevant to the investigation. 

All information provided by the public will be maintained as confidential by the City Attorney's Office and will be used exclusively for the purposes of this inquiry.

According to reports, Toyota has recalled 8.5 million vehicles worldwide, including more than 6 million in the United States, based upon malfunctions with its products that have raised serious safety concerns. About 2 million of those vehicles in the United States have been caught up in two different recalls.