A judge ruled Thursday, Toyota Motor Corp. is responsible for a 2007 crash where one woman perished and another was seriously injured when one of company's camry models abruptly sped forward CBS News reported.
The jury voted to give $1.5 million in money damages to Jean Bookout who was driving the 2005 Camry, and was hurt in the crash when her car sped through an intersection and crashed into an embankment in Eufaula, Okla. $1.5 million was also given to Barbara Schwarz, who lost her life in the crash.
"We believe Toyota's conduct from the time the electronic throttle-control system was developed has been shameful," attorney Cole Portis told jurors CBS News reported. "It's a big deal, because if it doesn't work right, people get killed."
According to CBS News, attorneys for Toyota, who say the vehicle increased its speed out of the blue because of an issue with the vehicle's electronic throttle-control system, objected the statements and said the crash was because of the driver.
"Sometimes people make mistakes while driving their cars," attorney Randolph Bibb Jr. said in a statement, CBS News reported. Bibb also believed Toyota had knowledge about the acceleration issue but kept it out of the public eye.
Toyota has arranged to pay a $1 billion settlement from 2012 to solve several cases where Toyota vehicle owners lost money when the company pulled back several vehicles because of the problem that caused the crash. The agreement did not contain information about lawsuits for wrongful death and injury.
Many lawsuits state that the company's electronic throttle-control system had defects, and was the reason why vehicles suddenly went forward CBS News reported.
After further review by Bookout's attorney's, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NASA have not discovered any electronic problems with the vehicles.
"Per the court's instructions, we cannot comment on the ruling pending the ongoing deliberations by the jury," Toyota said in a statement CBS News reported.
