Takata Compliance Monitor John Buretta Speaks at Press Conference with Automakers and Houston Civic Leaders To Launch Airbag Recall Outreach Program

On March 1, 2018, Cravath partner John D. Buretta spoke at a press conference in Houston, Texas, in his capacity as the Independent Monitor for Takata and the Coordinated Remedy Program. John, along with Houston civic and community leaders, FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Company and Mazda North American Operations, announced the launch of a first‑of‑its‑kind, collaborative outreach program designed to help Houston drivers affected by the Takata airbag recall, the largest safety recall in U.S. history. The program will involve canvassers on behalf of FCA US, Ford and Mazda going door‑to‑door in Greater Houston to find affected drivers and helping them to schedule free repairs.

In December 2015, John was selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) to serve as the Independent Monitor for Takata and the Coordinated Remedy Program, as part of a settlement agreement concerning Takata’s manufacture and sale of ammonium nitrate airbags. In April 2017, John was appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice to serve as compliance monitor regarding the worldwide operations of Takata Corporation, headquartered in Japan.

To determine if your car has a defective airbag inflator, visit www.AirbagRecall.com and enter your vehicle identification number (VIN).

Additional information about the monitorship is available at TakataMonitor.org. Members of the public can also use the TakataMonitor.org website to file confidential, anonymous reports, and to communicate with the Independent Monitor.

In addition to John, Cravath partners Julie A. North, Benjamin Gruenstein, David M. Stuart and Damaris Hernández and counsel Evan Norris are also assisting with the monitorship.