LOS ANGELES – An Indiana man alleges an auto manufacturer's wiring in vehicles is defective and attracts rodents.
Albert Heber filed a complaint on behalf of all other similarly situated on Aug. 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. alleging breach of express warranty and other counts.
According to the complaint, the defendant uses a soy-based wire insulation instead of a petroleum-based one as a more environmentally friendly measure. The plaintiff alleges that the soy-based insulation attracts rodents and that his 2012 Toyota Tundra has had rodents chew through wires on three separate occasions.
The plaintiff holds Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly refused to cover the damages under warranty.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks pay actual damages, statutory damages, order the defendant to cover for warranty the damages done to plaintiff's vehicle as the result of the defective product, all legal fees and any other relief as the court deems just. He is represented by Jerusalem F. Beligan and Brian D. Chase of Bisnar I Chase LLP in Newport Beach and Brian S. Kabateck, Lina Melidonian and Drew R. Ferrandini of Kabateck Brown Kellner in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Case number 8:16-cv-01525-AG-JCG