The judge to whom the MDL panel sent all the Toyota unintended acceleration cases to, Judge Selna, ruled tentatively that Toyota Motor Corp. can’t force named plaintiffs in a purported class-action lawsuit over alleged losses from unintended sudden acceleration to arbitrate their claims rather than proceed to trial.

U.S. District Judge James Selna in Santa Ana, California, said in a tentative ruling yesterday that Toyota waived its right to compel arbitration for 15 of the 20 plaintiffs and that, for the remaining five, the carmaker wasn’t a party to the arbitration agreements between the plaintiffs and the Toyota dealers.  A hearing is scheduled February 27 in federal court in Santa Ana, where Toyota’s lawyers may try to persuade the judge to change his decision.  Continue reading “Judge Selna rejects Toyota’s attempt to force automobile buyer’s claims to arbitration”