The Los Angeles Times report on a settlement that Toyota reached with the Saylor and Lastrella families (“Toyota settles suit over Saylor car crash” 9/17/10) fails to mention that this settlement fully resolves the families’ product liability claims against the Bob Baker Lexus dealership. 

 

The author of the report omits this fact and, instead, incorrectly reports that “the settlement has left out co-defendant Bob Baker Lexus.”  Although we clearly explained in our statement to the Times that the product liability claims against both Toyota and the dealership have been resolved, the Times published a shortened version of that statement to suggest, misleadingly, that the settlement only addressed the claims against Toyota. 

 

Through mutual respect and cooperation, Toyota and the Saylor and Lastrella families reached an amicable agreement in mediation that fully resolves these claims without the need for litigation.  We felt that was important for Toyota, the dealer and the families.  Toyota is not, however, in a position to address the additional claims the families have against the dealership that are independent of Toyota.