From Business Week: "Toyota Motor Corp. 'knowingly hid a dangerous defect' that caused its vehicles to accelerate unexpectedly, the U.S. said, for the first time accusing the world’s largest automaker of breaking the law. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proposed a record civil penalty of $16.4 million, the most the government can impose. The fine recommended yesterday escalates the confrontation between Toyota and LaHood, who initially praised the carmaker for its handling of recalls the company attributed to faulty accelerator pedals ... the department’s action showed “safety matters and they’re going to be tough as nails,” Joan Claybrook, a former head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said in an interview. 'That’s very appropriate. They caught Toyota red- handed.'.”

From The New York Times: "The Transportation Department said Monday it would seek a $16.4 million fine against Toyota, the largest allowed, because the company had failed to promptly notify the government about potential problems with accelerator pedals. The fine, which Toyota has two weeks to contest, would be the largest civil penalty assessed by the government against a car company. In taking the step, federal authorities are sending the strongest signal yet that they believe the carmaker deliberately concealed safety information from them. 'We now have proof that Toyota failed to live up to its legal obligations,' Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “Worse yet, they knowingly hid a dangerous defect for months from U.S. officials and did not take action to protect millions of drivers and their families.' "

Three Questions: How many people were injured because of Toyota's managers criminal behavior? How many were injured? Why hasn't somebody been arrested?

News Source: Business Week, The NewYorkTimes

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