Baron and Budd Files First Lawsuits Regarding Takata Air Bag Recall

Firm Pushes For Expedited Discovery, Questions If Recall Is Sufficient To Protect Public Safety

LOS ANGELES–(October 27, 2014) –Today, the law firm of Baron and Budd, together with co-counsel Labaton Sucharow LLP and Podhurst Orseck P.A., filed the nation’s first lawsuits regarding the recent recall of Takata-brand airbags that were placed in nearly eight million vehicles. According to numerous consumer reports, the airbags, when deployed, can propel metal pieces similar to shrapnel, causing serious, and sometimes even fatal, injuries to drivers and passengers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported at least six deaths related to the airbags in Florida alone.

The Baron and Budd cases were filed today in the Southern District of Florida and the Central District of California.

“In addition to filing the complaints, we have also asked the Court to order expedited discovery necessary to determine whether Takata and the vehicle manufacturers need to do more than simply issue sporadic and incomplete recalls. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there about this airbag recall,” said Roland Tellis, shareholder at Baron and Budd. “We need to know what Takata communicated with the car manufacturers, as well as what was communicated – or not communicated – to the government. The big question is whether or not Takata and the car manufacturers have done enough to protect public safety.”

As revealed in The New York Times September investigation, Honda and Takata failed for years to take decisive action regarding the dangerous, and potentially life-threatening, airbags. Even after manufacturers issued the recent recall, notices have been slow to go out and when consumers contact their local dealerships to have the problem fixed, they are often finding that it will take months to have the airbags replaced — with few options in the interim but to hope they don’t get into an accident.

Vehicles included in the Takata airbag recall:

[fusion_tabs layout=”horizontal” justified=”yes” backgroundcolor=”” inactivecolor=”#dddddd” class=”” id=””][fusion_tab title=”BMW”]

• 2000 ­- 2005 3 Series Sedan
• 2000 ­- 2006 3 Series Coupe
• 2000 ­- 2005 3 Series Sports Wagon
• 2000 -­ 2006 3 Series Convertible
• 2001 -­ 2006 M3 Coupe
• 2001 ­- 2006 M3 Convertible

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[fusion_tab title=”Chrysler”]

• 2003 – 2008 Dodge Ram 1500
• 2005 -­ 2008 Dodge Ram 2500
• 2006 ­- 2008 Dodge Ram 3500
• 2006 ­- 2008 Dodge Ram 4500
• 2008 Dodge Ram 5500
• 2005 ­- 2008 Dodge Durango
• 2005 -­ 2008 Dodge Dakota
• 2005 -­ 2008 Chrysler 300
• 2007 ­- 2008 Chrysler Aspen

[/fusion_tab]
[fusion_tab title=”Ford”]

• 2004 Ranger
• 2005 ­- 2006 GT
• 2005 ­- 2007 Mustang

[/fusion_tab]
[fusion_tab title=”GM”]

• 2003 ­- 2005 Pontiac Vibe
• 2005­ Saab 9-2X

[/fusion_tab]
[fusion_tab title=”Honda”]

• 2001 ­- 2007 Honda Accord
• 2001 -­ 2005 Honda Civic
• 2002 ­- 2006 Honda CR-V
• 2003 – 2011 Honda Element
• 2002 -­ 2004 Honda Odyssey
• 2003 -­ 2007 Honda Pilot
• 2006­ Honda Ridgeline
• 2003 -­ 2006 Acura MDX
• 2002 ­- 2003 Acura TL/CL
• 2005 Acura RL

[/fusion_tab]
[fusion_tab title=”Mazda”]

• 2003 ­- 2007 Mazda6
• 2006 -­ 2007 MazdaSpeed6
• 2004 ­- 2008 Mazda RX-8
• 2004 ­- 2005 MPV
• 2004­ B-Series Truck

[/fusion_tab]
[fusion_tab title=”Mitsubishi”]

• 2004 ­- 2005 Lancer
• 2006 ­- 2007 Raider

[/fusion_tab]
[fusion_tab title=”Nissan”]

• 2001 ­- 2003 Nissan Maxima
• 2001 ­- 2004 Nissan Pathfinder
• 2002 -­ 2004 Nissan Sentra
• 2001 -­ 2004 Infiniti I30/I35
• 2002 -­ 2003 Infiniti QX4
• 2003 -­ 2005 Infiniti FX35/FX45

[/fusion_tab]
[fusion_tab title=”Subaru”]

• 2003 -­ 2005 Legacy
• 2003 -­ 2005 Outback
• 2003 -­ 2005 Baja
• 2004 -­ 2005 Impreza

[/fusion_tab]
[fusion_tab title=”Toyota”]

• 2002 -­ 2005 Lexus SC
• 2002 ­- 2005 Toyota Corolla
• 2003 ­- 2005 Toyota Corolla Matrix
• 2002 ­- 2005 Toyota Sequoia
• 2003 -­ 2005 Toyota Tundra

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Baron and Budd has a dedicated history of protecting the rights of people in the arena of auto safety. The firm represents numerous vehicle owners in the General Motors faulty ignition recall litigation and in litigation surrounding defects with Nissan, BMW and Ford vehicles.

About Baron & Budd, P.C.

The law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C., with offices in Dallas, Baton Rouge, Austin and Los Angeles, is a nationally recognized law firm with almost four decades of experience “Protecting What’s Right” for people, communities and businesses harmed by negligence. Baron & Budd’s size and resources enable the firm to take on exceptionally large and complex cases. The firm represents individuals, governmental and business entities in areas as diverse as PCB contamination in schools, FLSA (overtime) violations, pharmaceutical and medical implant injuries, water contamination, GM ignition problems, California Proposition 65 violations, mortgage and credit card fraud and asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma.