Lawsuit Accuses Toyota of Concealing Pertinent Information in Rollover Accident Lawsuits

David Mittleman

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Dimitrios P. Biller worked as the managing counsel at Toyota Motor Sales from 2003 to 2007. As an attorney for the giant automaker, he successfully defended Toyota in many product-liability lawsuits brought by the victims of rollover accidents. Now, Biller has filed a lawsuit of his own against Toyota, alleging that he spent his four years at the company concealing evidence from the accident victims and their attorneys.

According to the lawsuit, Biller accuses Toyota of forcing him to destroy important and potentially incriminating data in more than 300 car accidents that indicated that some vehicle roofs on Toyota’s SUV and truck models were substandard. Specifically, he alleges that the company illegally withheld e-mails and other computer-stored data from victims’ attorneys. Moreover, he also alleges that Toyota withheld information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the company’s compliance with regulations for roof strength. Victims in the various cases against Toyota were often seriously injured or killed as a result of crushed roofs.

Toyota moved to have the complaint kept out of public view, arguing that it contained confidential information. However, the company was unsuccessful. If the allegations against Toyota are proven to be true, it has the potential to reopen hundreds of rollover cases in which Biller was involved. Nevertheless, Toyota maintains that Biller was a disgruntled employee who is retaliating because he was forced to resign in 2007.