Lawyers Convene, Prepare for Toyota Frenzy

More than 150 attorneys are meeting in San Diego to sharpen their legal tools on the eve of a major federal court hearing on whether dozens of Toyota acceleration cases will be consolidated before a single judge.

"Some of the leading mass tort lawyers in the country will be on hand for panel sessions such as 'Toyota Liability issues: The Mechanical vs Electronic Debate,' and 'Toyota's Unintended Acceleration Timeline,'" the San Diego Union Tribune reported Wednesday.

The main topic at Wednesday's conference was a hearing scheduled before a panel of federal judges on Thursday. The judges will decide whether to combine more than 100 Toyota lawsuits.

So far 19 jurisdictions have been suggested. They include California, Florida, Kentucky and even Puerto Rico. The panel is not required to pick from that list.

Toyota faces an avalanche of lawsuits that potentially could cost the company billions of dollars. The company has recalled more than 8 million vehicles globally over sticky pedals and accelerators that can become entrapped in floor mats, tarnishing the company's safety reputation and leading to government investigations and congressional hearings.

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