U.S. judge dismissed claims against Toyota Motor Corp. brought by non-U.S. car buyers over allegations that their vehicles lost value because of manufacturing defects, according to a tentative court ruling.
In addition to a lawsuit filed by U.S. customers, Toyota was sued by so-called foreign plaintiffs who similarly claim that the company did not sufficiently address sudden unintended acceleration.
The lawsuits have been consolidated before a federal judge in Southern California. In a tentative ruling available Monday on the court’s Website, U.S. District Judge James Selna ruled that the foreign plaintiffs had not established legal standing to sue in federal court.
Selna’s tentative order could become final at a hearing Monday afternoon in in Santa Ana, Calif.
A Toyota representative declined to comment before the hearing, and a lawyer representing the foreign plaintiffs could not immediately be reached.
Previously, Selna left intact the bulk of claims brought by U.S. customers at a similar stage in the proceedings.
The case in U.S. District Court, Central District of California is In re: Toyota Motor Corp. Unintended Acceleration Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, 10-2151.
