Toyota lawsuits mount up

Toyota now faces more than 320 lawsuits in federal and state courts related to its vehicles' sudden acceleration problems.

In a report filed on Friday with United States District Judge James Selna, attorneys for the plaintiffs and Toyota listed 228 federal cases and 99 related cases in state courts. The next court date in the case is scheduled for May 13.

The lawsuits began appearing late last year as Toyota initiated the first of a series of recalls eventually involving about eight million vehicles - including about six million in the US - over acceleration problems in several models and brake issues with the popular Prius hybrid.

Toyota said the acceleration problems were caused by faulty floor mats and sticky accelerator pedals.

Some plaintiffs also claim that there is a defect with Toyota's electronic throttle control system, but Toyota denies that.

Plaintiffs are alleging injury and death due to the sudden acceleration as well as breach of warranty, fraud and economic injury because the values of their vehicles plummeted after the recalls.

- AP