Toyota Whistleblower Dimitrios Biller Slapped With $2.6m Judgement

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

The story of Dimitrios Biller has been one of the more colorful sideshows in last year’s media-scourging of Toyota, complete with a “book of secrets,” accusations of corporate criminality, counter-accusations of mental instability and a congressional pissing match. But with the Toyota media circus long gone, it now seems that l’affaire Biller was just another distraction from the mundane truth of the unintended acceleration scare. As the Detroit News reports, Biller and Toyota’s legal struggle is over… and Toyota, not Biller, is going to get paid.

Biller, a California attorney who worked at Toyota Motor Sales USA for four years, from 2003 to 2007, and Toyota had agreed to have their disputes settled by binding arbitration, which limits the grounds for appeal.

Biller had sued Toyota for defamation and fraud, while Toyota had sued him for violating confidentiality and severance agreements.

Gary Taylor, a retired judge serving as the arbitrator, concluded in a final award that Toyota should receive $2.5 million in damages from Biller for 10 disclosure violations, plus $100,000 in punitive damages.

“The evidence showed that Toyota suffered, and will continue to suffer, multiple harms from Mr. Biller’s contract breaches,” Judge Taylor wrote.

He also ordered Biller to return documents, including attorney-client documents, he’d taken from Toyota and allow the company to inspect his computers.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Crosley Crosley on Jan 05, 2011

    Some how I doubt this guy will be hauled in front of congressional hearings for a media circus.

  • RogerB34 RogerB34 on Jan 05, 2011

    " Biller was just another distraction from the mundane truth of the unintended acceleration scare." Back that statement with not mundane facts pls.

  • Ihatetrees Ihatetrees on Jan 05, 2011

    I'm sure this will get prompt and wide coverage in the auto sections of the Detroit (so-called) News and Washington Post...

  • Jpolicke Jpolicke on Jan 06, 2011

    Somebody needs to slap this guy for his "Toyota gave me emotional damage" whining. Last time I heard, Lincoln freed the slaves. His ethical distress didn't keep him from staying there and taking their tainted money.

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