District Attorney Tony Rackauckas says the automaker knowingly sold defective vehicles and then intentionally hid the defects. The suit seeks to "permanently enjoin Toyota from continued unlawful, unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices as it pertains to both consumers and competitors." From the OC Register:

The DA's office said it is seeking penalties in the amount of $2,500 "for every violation of the Unfair Business Practices Act," in addition to attorney's fees and investigation costs. Rackaucakas said there could be "hundreds of thousands or millions" of such penalties.

Rackaucakas says he feels it is his office's duty "to make sure Toyota is not gaining an unfair business advantage over other car companies who are not doing what Toyota is doing." That's right, we already have federal regulators, Congress and every plaintiffs attorney known to mankind going after the T-people, but now that the OC District Attorney's office is on the case, we'll really see action.