Jury Says Toyota Must Pay $16M in Dealer Recall Lawsuit

Toyota has been ordered to pay nearly $16 million to a Southern California dealer who alleged the company's Prius recalls didn't fix safety problems.

The Los Angeles Times says an Orange County jury decided Monday that Toyota had breached "good faith and fair dealing" with Roger Hogan, who has dealerships in Claremont and San Juan Capistrano.

Hogan alleged Toyota retaliated after he began raising safety concerns about the Prius electric power system in 2017. Hogan's attorney says jurors specifically ruled on Hogan's claim that he faced Toyota's wrath after contending a 2014 Prius recall didn't fix defects.

Toyota denies wrongdoing and says the jury's decision doesn't indicate its decision was related to vehicle safety issues.

The company still faces a Los Angeles lawsuit alleging recalls failed to fix Prius defects.