CINCINNATI, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanley M. Chesley from the Cincinnati, Ohio-based law firm of Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Co., L.P.A. today filed a national federal class action lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corporation and other Toyota affiliates.  The case is based on the sudden acceleration defect in millions of Toyota automobiles that has caused injuries and deaths.

The national class action lawsuit was filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Kentucky in Covington, Kentucky.  The Federal lawsuit alleges violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, fraudulent concealment, consumer protection act violation, false advertising, breach of warranties, breach of contracts, and strict product liability.  Chesley alleges that Toyota misrepresented the problem as being caused by floormats and has still not corrected it.  "Toyota has long known about the defect and has done too little, too late to correct it," says Mr. Chesley. "This problem is speeding out of control and Toyota is endangering the lives of innocent people."

The company has received numerous complaints of sudden, unintended acceleration.  Many consumers are fearful of driving their cars.  The cars have lost value due to this problem, creating an economic hardship for its customers in already tough economic times.

In addition to seeking compensatory and punitive damages, Chesley has requested injunctive relief requiring Toyota to provide replacement vehicles to members of the Class until their vehicles have been repaired or replaced; to provide replacement parts to dealerships first; to provide counseling services to Class members who have suffered emotional distress as a result of being forced to drive defective, dangerous vehicles; and requiring Toyota to reform their lease and finance contracts with members of the Class and to cease collecting lease or purchase payments from Class members whose cars are defective as alleged in the Complaint.

Chesley filed a request for collecting all Toyota cases in a Multidistrict Litigation process to be located in the federal Eastern District of Kentucky, where Toyota's North American Headquarters are and where its largest manufacturing plant outside Japan is located.

For more than 40 years, Stanley M. Chesley and Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Co., L.P.A. has represented individuals from across the United States in a variety of personal injury, breach of contract, fraud, and negligence claims, including complex product liability cases, toxic exposure, and dangerous prescription drugs.  More information on the firm is found at http://www.wsbclaw.com.

SOURCE Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Co. L.P.A.