Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Product Liability Law & StrategyKickerFeaturesTopicsCommercial LawLitigationSectionsNewsLJN Newsletters

The Toyota Recall Crisis: More Than a Re-TREAD

By Nicholas J. Wittner
July 29, 2010

Ten years ago, the Ford-Firestone Tire recall resulted in the most sweeping amendments to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act since it had been enacted in 1966. Congressional hearings had elicited evidence that Ford knew of tread separations resulting in fatal rollovers in the U.S. and overseas, had conducted tire “replacement campaigns” on Ford Explorers in Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, but had not done so in the U.S. Nor had Ford informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the overseas campaigns, the fatality and injury claims, warranty claims, and consumer complaints stemming from tread separation. The Safety Act did not require that Ford do so. Instead, the Act obligated Ford and other auto manufacturers to notify NHTSA when they determined that a safety defect exists, but there was no mandate for them to share information about possible defects before making that determination.

'TREAD'

This premium content is locked for LJN Newsletters subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

Compliance Officers: Recent Regulatory Guidance and Enforcement Actions and Mitigating the Risk of Personal Liability Image

This article explores legal developments over the past year that may impact compliance officer personal liability.