Toyota Agrees to $1.1 Billion Settlement Tied to Sudden Accelerations

DETROIT — Toyota Motor Corp. agreed on a $1.1 billion settlement toward the class-action lawsuit related to issues of sudden acceleration in its vehicles. A suit was filed in 2010 after numerous complaints were made that Toyota automobiles were accelerating suddenly and causing accidents and injuries.  Since then more then 8 million vehicles in the US have been recalled for problems related to floor mats that could become entangled with accelerator pedals, or pedals that could stick with the throttle open.

While there are still individual personal-injury and wrongful death lawsuits pending against Toyota, in addition to an unfair business practice case brought by the attorneys general of 28 states, the class-action case was the largest legal action related to economic losses by vehicle owners and is one of the largest settlements of its type in automotive history.   Once approved Toyota would make cash payments for the loss of value on these vehicles on up to 3.2 million cars.

The lawsuit was a lingering obstacle for Toyota which had long enjoyed a pristine reputation for quality, safety and reliability.  The settlement appears large but may be part of Toyota’s longer-term strategy to move beyond the acceleration scandal.  Christopher P. Reynolds, Toyota’s chief legal officer in the United States, said "This agreement marks a significant step forward for our company, one that will enable us to put more of our energy, time and resources into Toyota’s central focus: making the best vehicles we can for our customers,”.

Under the proposed settlement, Toyota agreed to:

1. Create a fund of $250 million to pay claims to former owners of cars affected by the acceleration recalls. The company also agreed to install so-called brake override systems on cars whose pedals could stick or become trapped in floor mats. The company said it had already installed the systems on 2.6 million vehicles but that an additional 550,000 cars had not received the equipment.
   
2. Provide a customer support program for more than 16 million current Toyota owners, who will be eligible for free repairs on certain parts for up to 10 years.
   
3. Contribute $30 million to finance automotive safety research related to driver behavior and unintended acceleration. 

The company’s sales in the United States have increased 28 percent this year, about double the pace of growth for the overall market. One industry analyst said the proposed class-action settlement would help Toyota continue to rebuild its reputation and market share. 

“Toyota wants to put its sudden acceleration recalls behind it once and for all,” said Jesse Toprak, an auto research analyst. “As costly as it may be, this settlement will allow them to remove most of the lingering financial uncertainty.” 

If you or someone you know has been injured due to the unintended/sudden acceleration defect in your car call the experienced defective product attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Toyota settled injury claim over sudden acceleration long before latest settlement

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Months before Toyota Motor Corp.’s $1.1 billion settlement of a class action lawsuit, the Japanese automaker settled a long and hard fought battle in Kent County Circuit Court over claims that their cars were prone to sudden acceleration.


In the summer of 2011, Toyota Motor Corp settled two injury cases brought after an August 2008 car accident in which a 2007 Lexus ES350, made by Toyota, careened out of control after its throttle stuck underneath a floor mat.  The runaway car struck a minivan injuring 65-year-old retiree Charles Harrell with a broken pelvis, eight broken ribs, a broken leg and a punctured lung that kept him in the hospital for nearly a month.

Toyota has taken a very aggressive defense stance throughout all of this even though countless lives have been put in danger.

Those injured by the car defect claim the vehicles should have been equipped with a throttle override that activated when his they stepped on the brake. They also argue the dealership should have fixed the defect that caused the floor mat to bunch up under the accelerator pedal.

If you or someone you know have been injured due to a defective car product call the experience product liability attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

Historic 35 Car Pileup on LIE Leaves One Dead & 33 Injured

All eastbound and westbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway re-opened Thursday morning following a 35 car pileup that killed one person and injured 33 others.

A 68-year-old woman died after her Toyota Camry was hit in the midst of a 33 car pileup that happened on Wednesday afternoon after a tractor-trailer hit cars in the eastbound lane.

Police said the truck crashed into several vehicles which then set off a domino effect of accidents involving 35 cars that spread out across several hundred yards of the eastbound lanes.

Police Deputy Inspector Kevin Fallon said the accident occurred at about 2:40 p.m. Five fire departments showed up at the scene as well as 19 emergency medical services agencies, police said.

The tractor-trailer was carrying debris from Hurricane Sandy and as a result of its crash caused at least three vehicles to catch on fire, including the 18-wheeler itself.  It is still unclear if the tractor-trailer's driver, Raymond Simoneau, 42, was among the injured.

Simoneau was driving east on the LIE just past the William Floyd Parkway exit when he lost control of the rig and slammed into several cars, Suffolk County Police said. The car involved in the initial collision with the tractor-trailer "was incinerated beyond recognition, with its tires punctured and paint burned off its body."

The LIE remained closed in both directions between exits 66 and 69 until shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday, in time for the morning rush. It is not clear what caused Simoneau to lose control of the tractor-trailer and investigation into the matter continues, authorities said Thursday.

The injured were taken to Stony Brook University Medical Center.
The incident occured in the same week as a 60 car pileup near the Oregon stateline, where a semi-truck driver lost control over black ice and crashed his truck into a concrete median. Cars crashing into each other extended for more than two miles.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident call the experienced New York Car Accident Lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

14-Year-Old Struck by Vehicle in Medford

MEDFORD — A 14-year-old from Bellmore was struck by a vehicle and hospitalized, according to Suffolk police.

The teen was struck in the left leg Friday night on Patchogue Yaphank Road, police said. The driver was a 66-year-old man from North Patchogue, sources said.

No information has been provided so far on the victim’s condition. No charges have been filed.

If you or someone you know has been struck by a vehicle call the experienced personal injury lawyers of Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Hospira Recall - potential for serious injury

December 14, 2012 - Lake Forest, Ill - Hospira, Inc. (NYSE: HSP), issued this press release today to further inform the general public about a previously communicated voluntary user-level recall of three lots of Carboplatin Injection due to visible particulates identified during a retain sample inspection. Findings have identified the particles as Carboplatin crystals. Hospira customers were notified of the issue in early November 2012.

In the event where particulate matter is injected into a patient, there may be the potential for serious and/or life threatening patient injury. In general, if particulate matter from crystallization is injected, it may potentially become lodged in and obstruct blood vessels, potentially causing local infarction, thromboembolism and vasculitis. Chronically, following sequestration, granulomatous formation in the lungs is possible.

Carboplatin Injection is indicated for the initial treatment of advanced ovarian carcinoma in established combination with other approved chemotherapeutic agents. Carboplatin Injection is indicated for the palliative treatment of patients with ovarian carcinoma recurrent after prior chemotherapy, including patients who have been previously treated with Cisplatin.

The affected lots were distributed Nationwide and in Puerto Rico between the dates of March 2012 and September 2012.

Hospira has not received reports of any adverse events or product quality complaints known to be associated with the issue for these lots. This recall is being conducted as a precautionary measure.
Hospira has initiated an investigation to determine the root cause and corrective and preventive actions.
Anyone with an existing inventory should stop use and distribution, quarantine the product immediately, and call Stericycle at 1-877-650-8362 between the hours of 8am and 5pm EST, Monday through Friday, to arrange for the return of the product. Replacement product from other lots is available.

For medical inquiries, please contact Hospira Medical Communications at 1-800-615-0187. This phone number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Any adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Events Program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

• Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
• Regular mail: use postage-paid, pre-addressed Form FDA3500 available at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm
• Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the FDA.

About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is the world's leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies. Through its broad, integrated portfolio, Hospira is uniquely positioned to Advance Wellness™ by improving patient and caregiver safety while reducing healthcare costs. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has approximately 15,000 employees.

If you or someone you know has suffered serious injury due to a defective drug call the experienced defective drug attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878.

OPERATION REBUILD HOPE - Hurricane Sandy Relief Event

Our firm, Buttafuoco & Associates, has teamed up with WLIX Hope Radio, GodisAble.org and ORLI (operation restore long island) to bring to long island OPERATION REBUILD HOPE this saturday, december 15th from 10am-3pm at Bethpage Assembly of God.

Superstorm Sandy destroyed or left uninhabitable more than 2,000 homes in Nassau and Suffolk.  The homes are part of about 100,000 Long Island residences that officials estimate were severely flooded, damaged or destroyed by the storm leaving thousands of families struggling to rebuild and recover.

The mission of our event is simple. Raise support for those deeply affected by Hurricane Sandy while providing people a fun atmosphere perfect for the whole family.

In addition to the Sandy Supply Drive, live music and children's activities at the event our firm (Buttafuoco & Associates) has committed at least $10,000 that will be given away in $500 gifts to those deeply affected by Sandy.

If you would like to donate at item to our cause please visit GodisAble.org for a complete list.

If you would like to get involved or learn more information about the event visit the facebook event page: OPERATION REBUILD HOPE

BMW Recalling 30,000 X5 Sport Utilities

BMW is recalling almost 30,000 of its diesel-powered 2009-12 X5 sport utilities because the power-assist for the steering may fail, according to a report from the automaker posted on the Web site of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

BMW says it is possible that a bolt could loosen “due to a number of unfavorable contributing factors, including very low ambient temperatures.”

If the bolt fails, the vehicle would suddenly lose the power assist to the steering. That would require greater effort to turn the vehicle, which the automaker said “may increase the risk of a crash.”

BMW says the recall was prompted by an investigation earlier this year by Transport Canada, the Canadian counterpart to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

There was no mention of any accidents related to the defect. In an e-mail, Matthew Russell, a BMW spokesman, said the automaker wasn’t aware of any accidents related to the loss of steering.

In June, BMW recalled about 2,600 X5 diesel models from the 2012-13 model year because those vehicles could suddenly leak power-steering fluid. That would result in the loss of power assist, and it could lead to a fire in the engine compartment. BMW said the steering gear was not correctly machined.

If you or someone you know has suffered injured due to a faulty product call the experienced personal injury lawyers at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

Doctor in Pharmacy Killer case charged in overdose deaths

Stan Li, who prescribed more than 2,500 pain pills to Medford pharmacy killer David Laffer, is being arraigned Thursday morning in Manhattan on manslaughter charges in connection with two overdose deaths, one involving a Long Island man, according to New York City's Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

Li already faced charges of reckless endangerment and criminal sale of a prescription.

Dr. Stan Li as he is arraigned in Manhattan on manslaughter charges in connection with two overdose deaths, one involving a Long Island man, according to New York City's Office of Special Narcotics Prosecutor. Seated to his right is his attorney, Raymond Belair. (Dec. 06, 2012) 

If you or someone you know was seriously injured after being prescribed the wrong medication or wrong dosage call the experienced medical malpractice attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878

generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) recalled after glass discovered...

Ranbaxy Laboratories (generic drug maker) will stop manufacturing its version of Pfizer Inc's cholesterol fighter, Lipitor, while it gets to the bottom of the cause of a recent recall.

Earlier this month, after the company discovered contamination with tiny glass particles, Ranbaxy recalled certain lots of the widely used cholesterol lowering medicine known generically as atorvastatin at doses of 10 milligrams, 20 mg and 40 mg.

During its first six months on the market, when it enjoyed marketing exclusivity, atorvastatin generated sales of nearly $600 million for Ranbaxy, according to Bhagwan Singh Chaudhary, a research associate at the brokerage IndiaNivesh

FDA said it will continue to oversee the recall process and work with the Ranbaxy to resolve pharmaceutical quality issues.

The recall is the latest in a series of manufacturing problems at Ranbaxy, which is operating under heightened scrutiny due to past problems that nearly derailed it ability to sell atorvastatin in the United States.

In 2008, the FDA banned the company from importing about 30 drugs after it found manufacturing deficiencies at two of the company's facilities in India, and Ranbaxy was later accused of falsifying data used in drug applications.

Under a proposed settlement earlier this year, Ranbaxy agreed to engage a third party to conduct a review of its facilities, implement procedures to ensure data integrity in its marketing applications, and ensure it meets good manufacturing practices.

If you or someone you know has suffered injury due to a defective drug/medication call the experienced defective product attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates 1-800-669-4878