MIAMI (May 17, 2010) – Senior Partner Lewis S. “Mike” Eidson of the Coral Gables-based law firm Colson Hicks Eidson, was appointed Friday by U.S. District Judge James V. Selna in Santa Ana, California, to serve on the nine members personal injury/wrongful death leadership committee in the Toyota multidistrict litigation (MDL). The personal injury/wrongful death leadership committee will be primarily responsible for the product liability aspects of the consolidated cases before Judge Selna including participation in any MDL trial of the class actions.
Eidson, a nationally recognized product liability expert, was the national co-lead counsel in the Ford Explorer/ Firestone tire litigation, which prior to the Toyota recalls was the largest automotive recall in history. He was also involved in the Chrysler Minivan latch case that led to the recall of 4 million vehicles. In addition, at age 29, he tried and won along with his partners, the first case alleging that the Ford Pinto fuel system was defective.
Eidson, the only Florida lawyer appointed, will help steer the MDL against Toyota Motor Corp. in the hundreds of lawsuits involving sudden unintended vehicle acceleration. Eidson is one of 21 plaintiffs’ lawyers from around the country chosen to manage the litigation involving U.S. claims.
In March, Eidson filed a national class action against Toyota Motor Corp. alleging the Japanese automaker equipped cars with defective electronic throttle systems and other defects. More than 320 lawsuits have been filed in federal and state court against Toyota Motor Corp. after it began recalling nearly 8 million vehicles because of unintended acceleration problems.
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