A US judge has rejected a bid by air bag manufacturer Takata Corp and automaker Honda Motor Co to toss out a class-action lawsuit on behalf of millions of owners with potentially faulty airbag inflators, even as the firms are moving to quickly settle death claims.
The Japanese companies have agreed to undisclosed settlements for six of eight deaths linked to ruptured inflators as U.S. prosecutors ramp up a probe of the ruptures and whether regulators were misled. Four settlements have been reached in recent months.
Litigation arising from four of the six U.S. deaths has been settled, Honda spokesman Chris Martin said. Court records show a fifth U.S. death - in September 2014 in California - has also been settled.
Honda has been working to settle claims quickly, Martin said. "Honda has worked in good faith to quickly resolve the concerns of those families," he said.
Honda, Takata and other automakers will continue to face a class-action suit filed on behalf of millions of owners that alleges Takata and the automakers violated anti-racketeering laws because of a ruling on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno in Miami.
Since 2008, at least 19.2 million U.S. vehicles have been recalled for inflators that can rupture. The suit claims millions of car owners overpaid for vehicles with faulty airbags and the recalls reduced the value of those vehicles.
"Honda looks forward to the opportunity to properly challenge plaintiffs' claims," Honda's Martin said. He said the automaker is confident that the racketeering claim will be dismissed.
Takata declined to comment on the ruling.
The airbag manufacturer has bolstered its legal team. Lanny Breuer, a partner at Covington & Burling LLP who served as U.S. assistant attorney general overseeing the criminal division from 2009-2013, said in a court filing in November that he was representing Takata in the civil lawsuit.
The previously unreported civil settlements cover five airbag deaths in the United States - including two reported inflator deaths this year in Texas and Louisiana - and a 2014 incident in Malaysia in which a pregnant woman was killed and her baby subsequently died. Judge Moreno approved that settlement on Nov. 20.
U.S. prosecutors have conducted interviews with Takata and Honda employees in both Japan and the United States, two people briefed on the matter told Reuters. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit declined to comment.
Martin declined to say if executives have been interviewed but said "Honda is actively cooperating with the DOJ investigation of Takata."
A federal grand jury has subpoenaed documents from Takata, but Honda said it has not received a grand jury subpoena.
Honda has confirmed seven airbag deaths since 2009. An inflator is also suspected in the 2013 death of a California man in a 2002 Acura TL.
Reuters
Fri Dec 04 2015
![Honda, Takata settle airbag suits, lose round in class action case Honda, Takata settle airbag suits, lose round in class action case](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-11/81446898707_takatacorp.jpg)
Takata declined to comment on the ruling.
![Tuanku Muhriz sempurnakan Istiadat Perbarisan Pertukaran Panji-Panji 71 Rejimen Semboyan DiRaja Tuanku Muhriz sempurnakan Istiadat Perbarisan Pertukaran Panji-Panji 71 Rejimen Semboyan DiRaja](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720357336_TuankuMuhrizATM.jpg)
Tuanku Muhriz sempurnakan Istiadat Perbarisan Pertukaran Panji-Panji 71 Rejimen Semboyan DiRaja
Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir berkenan menyempurnakan Istiadat Perbarisan Pertukaran Panji-Panji 71 RSDPMB.
![Pasangan suami isteri dan anak lelaki nyaris lemas kereta terbabas dalam sungai Pasangan suami isteri dan anak lelaki nyaris lemas kereta terbabas dalam sungai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720357777_lemassungai.jpg)
Pasangan suami isteri dan anak lelaki nyaris lemas kereta terbabas dalam sungai
Pasangan suami isteri serta anak lelaki mereka berusia tiga tahun nyaris lemas selepas kereta jenis Proton Pesona dinaiki mereka terbabas ke dalam sungai di Jalan Kangar-Alor Setar.
![KPT ucap tahniah kejayaan kontinjen negara di AUG 2024 KPT ucap tahniah kejayaan kontinjen negara di AUG 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720355095_KejohananUniversit.jpg)
KPT ucap tahniah kejayaan kontinjen negara di AUG 2024
KPT merakamkan ucapan tahniah kepada kontinjen negara yang berjaya melepasi sasaran 35 pingat emas dan menduduki tempat ketiga negara terbaik pada kejohanan Sukan Universiti ASEAN (AUG) 2024.
![Demam denggi landa negeri selatan India Karnataka, Delhi pula catat 240 kes Demam denggi landa negeri selatan India Karnataka, Delhi pula catat 240 kes](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/61710238310_denggi.jpg)
Demam denggi landa negeri selatan India Karnataka, Delhi pula catat 240 kes
Demam denggi melanda beberapa bahagian di negeri selatan India, Karnataka, dengan hampir tujuh orang disyaki meninggal dunia akibat penyakit itu dan lebih 7,000 kes direkodkan.
![Skuasy: Aifa-Aira juara beregu wanita Asia 2024 Skuasy: Aifa-Aira juara beregu wanita Asia 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71720360503_TBSkuasy.jpg)
Skuasy: Aifa-Aira juara beregu wanita Asia 2024
Gandingan adik beradik, Aifa Azman-Aira Azman menepati ramalan apabila bergelar juara beregu wanita Kejohanan Skuasy Beregu Asia 2024.
![Program MADANI Rakyat Zon Timur catat jumlah pengunjung tertinggi Program MADANI Rakyat Zon Timur catat jumlah pengunjung tertinggi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720350205_TBMadani.jpg)
Program MADANI Rakyat Zon Timur catat jumlah pengunjung tertinggi
Program MADANI Rakyat (PMR) 2024 Zon Timur di Dataran Sayangi Kuantan melabuhkan tirai hari ini dengan mencatatkan jumlah pengunjung tertinggi dalam tiga siri penganjurannya iaitu jumlah pengunjung me
AWANI 7:45 [07/07/2024] - Peringatan Agong | Usah korban jati diri demi kuasa | Isu buli siber jadi tumpuan | Nasib berbeza dua 'gergasi' bola sepak
#AWANI745 malam ini bersama Syaff Shukri;
1. Agong ingatkan, jangan jadikan media sosial tempat buka aib
2. Jangan korban jati diri untuk kuasa dan populariti, pesan Sultan Kedah
3. Belum ada jaminan BN dan PH kerjasama hadapi PRU16
4. England gembira, Brazil berduka, nasib berbeza dua gergasi bola sepak
1. Agong ingatkan, jangan jadikan media sosial tempat buka aib
2. Jangan korban jati diri untuk kuasa dan populariti, pesan Sultan Kedah
3. Belum ada jaminan BN dan PH kerjasama hadapi PRU16
4. England gembira, Brazil berduka, nasib berbeza dua gergasi bola sepak
![1,400 veteran ATM disasar sertai Program Desa MADANI tahun ini 1,400 veteran ATM disasar sertai Program Desa MADANI tahun ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720353771_AdlyZahari.jpg)
1,400 veteran ATM disasar sertai Program Desa MADANI tahun ini
Kementerian Pertahanan menyasarkan 1,400 veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) menyertai Program Veteran Desa Madani (VDM) seluruh negara tahun ini.
![Kekalahan di Sungai Bakap bukan penamat hadapi PRK seterusnya - Ahmad Zahid Kekalahan di Sungai Bakap bukan penamat hadapi PRK seterusnya - Ahmad Zahid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720350017_TBZahidHamidi.jpg)
Kekalahan di Sungai Bakap bukan penamat hadapi PRK seterusnya - Ahmad Zahid
Kekalahan calon Pakatan Harapan (PH) pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sungai Bakap di Pulau Pinang semalam bukanlah penamat kepada gabungan parti dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan khus
Pentas jual anugerahkan pakej media bernilai RM55,600
Jelajah JIWA SME 2024 melabuhkan tirai untuk siri pertama di Johor Bahru. Pemyampai Astro AWANI, Irfan Faruqi membawakan perinciannya.