Automotive Recyclers Association Announces Class Action Filed Against Takata Corporation Regarding Airbag Recall

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Automotive Recyclers Association ("ARA") announces that it has filed a class action lawsuit against Takata Corporation, its subsidiaries TK Holdings, Inc. and Highland Industries, Inc. (collectively "Takata"), and numerous automotive manufacturers (the "Auto Manufacturers") relating to the massive recall of vehicles containing defective airbags manufactured by Takata. 

The ARA brought the class action on behalf of all persons and entities who operate professional automotive recycling facilities in the United States who have purchased for resale any of the vehicles containing undeployed and allegedly defective airbags manufactured by Takata (collectively "the Automotive Recyclers").  The complaint alleges that Takata and the Auto Manufacturers withheld and/or misled Automotive Recyclers about the safety and reliability of the allegedly defective airbags, which led recyclers to over pay for now worthless airbags.

According to the complaint, Takata was aware of the airbag defect as far back as 2004 when it conducted secret tests on several airbags. 

The complaint further alleges that following the disclosure of the airbag defect, the Automotive Recyclers are not able to sell or trade these airbags because they are valueless. The ARA alleges that it and the Automotive Recyclers had an expectation that Takata and the Auto Manufacturers would disclose known defects in a timely manner pursuant to federal, state and common law. The failure to properly disclose the defect caused the Automotive Recyclers to purchase vehicles containing the Takata airbags for amounts greater than their worth. 

The ARA is represented by Kessler Topaz Meltzer and Check, LLP. The complaint was filed in the United State District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Since 1943, the ARA is an international trade association which has represented an industry dedicated to the efficient removal and reuse of automotive parts, and the safe disposal of inoperable motor vehicles. The ARA services over 1,000 member companies in the United States through direct membership and an additional 2,500 other companies in the United States through affiliated automotive recycling organizations. The ARA aims to further the automotive recycling industry through various services and programs to increase public awareness of the industry's role in conserving the future through automotive recycling and to foster awareness of the industry's value as a high quality, low cost alternative for the automotive consumer. For more information about the ARA, please visit http://www.a-r-a.org.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country.  The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). The law firm is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors as well as consumers from the United States and around the world. For more information about the law firm, or for additional information about participating in this action, please visit http://www.ktmc.com.

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (James Maro, Esq.) at (888) 299-7706 or (610) 667-7706, or via e-mail at [email protected].  Alternatively, you may view a list of the vehicles that are potentially affected by Takata-manufactured airbags and request more information about the class action online at http://www.ktmc.com/takata-airbag-recall.

CONTACT:  Michael E. Wilson, ARA CEO, (571) 208-0428

SOURCE Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA)

Related Links

http://www.a-r-a.org