After news late last week that the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation had decided to consolidate nearly 200 lawsuits against Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. before a single federal judge in California, that judge has now tapped a preliminary team of plaintiffs lawyers to lead the complex case.

U.S. District Judge James Selna of the Central District of California named three co-lead counsel, cautioning however that "these temporary designations are not a precursor of future appointments, reports Reuters.

The trio includes Steve Berman of Hagens Berman Sobel Shapiro; Elizabeth Cabraser of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein; and Marc Seltzer of Susman Godfrey.

Cari Dawson of Alston & Bird is at the helm of Toyota's defense team.

The litigation, which blames the automaker for alleged injuries ranging from fatal accidents to diminished vehicle value after widespread reports of claimed sudden-acceleration problems with some Toyota models, could potentially involve up to $10 billion in estimated damages, Reuters reports. Millions of vehicles have been recalled worldwide since reports of claimed defects began snowballing in recent months.

Earlier coverage:

ABAJournal.com: "Plaintiff Lawyers Vie for Coveted Lead Counsel Role in Toyota Litigation"

National Law Journal: "Toyota Litigation Consolidated Before U.S. District Judge in Santa Ana, Calif."