VOA标准英语2010年-Massive Legal Battle Shaping Up Agains

A panel of federal judges in San Diego, California is expected to rule on whether to consolidate¹ a large number of lawsuits³ filed nationwide against Toyota.

Toyota has been inundated⁴ with lawsuits due to safety concerns that have led to the recall of more than eight-and-a-half million vehicles worldwide. Federal judges in California will hear arguments on whether to consolidate more than one hundred lawsuits claiming Toyota is responsible for economic losses suffered by Toyota owners.

"What they're addressing are the diminished values of the cars nationwide, as the result of Toyota's misinformation and mismanagement of the company, through no fault of the consumers,' said Northeastern University Law Professor Tim Howard, who leads a consortium of attorneys that will make the case for a single class action lawsuit².  Howard says it's a case that could cost Toyota dearly. "The amount of damages the cases will be claiming, you are looking at approximately eight to 10 million cars.  If we look at a $1,000 a car -- that would be eight million cars, $8 billion dollars worth of raw economic damages."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has linked more than 50 deaths to the unexpected acceleration⁵ problems -- a safety issue Toyota has blamed on floor mats and sticky gas pedals.

"And to me that was such an illogical conclusion that it was hard to believe," said Victor Andreone, who is one of the plaintiffs and expected to testify in a class action lawsuit.  He claims Toyota put his entire family at risk because it did not do enough to ensure the safety of its cars. "My daughter in Los Angeles has two grandkids under six. My son has a new baby of a year-and-a-half. My concern is obviously, from what I detected, the technical aspects of deficiencies were not properly investigated," he said.

A panel of seven judges will deliver a ruling on the proposed consolidation⁶ in April.  A Toyota official says the company will not comment on any ongoing⁷ litigation.
 

1 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

2 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

3 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

4 inundated   

v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付

参考例句：

• We have been inundated with offers of help. 主动援助多得使我们应接不暇。
• We have been inundated with every bit of information imaginable. 凡是想得到的各种各样的信息潮水般地向我们涌来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 acceleration   

n.加速，加速度

参考例句：

• All spacemen must be able to bear acceleration.所有太空人都应能承受加速度。
• He has also called for an acceleration of political reforms.他同时呼吁加快政治改革的步伐。

6 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。