US judge to review Toyota case discovery plan

CALIFORNIA: A federal judge in Southern California will review a plan to share information in the sprawling litigation involving alleged defects in some Toyota vehicles.

A hearing on Tuesday before US District Judge James Selna will focus on the first phase of discovery where attorneys for both the plaintiffs and the Japanese automaker can begin exchanging documents and taking depositions.

The plan, agreed upon by both sides, would give a 100-day window for the process if Selna approves it.

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against Toyota in state and federal court after the automaker began its recall because of acceleration problems in several models and brake glitches with the Prius hybrid.