By Julie Steinberg | December 7, 2021
A federal court in Florida has certified a class of consumers who purchased 2012-2014 Camry vehicles from authorized Toyota dealers in the state. The lawsuit, brought by plaintiffs Javier Cardenas and Rodney Baker, alleges that Toyota Motor Corp. and Southeast Toyota Distributors LLC concealed a design flaw in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This defect allegedly causes microbial growth, leading to moldy-smelling air being emitted into the vehicle cabin. While the court allowed the class action to proceed under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, it declined to certify a class for claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The legal representation for the class includes Podhurst Orseck PA and Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP.
