IRVINE, Calif., (June 13, 2011) – Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU) today announced the appointment of Kody Diaz to national legal department manager and managing counsel, where he will oversee all legal activities on behalf of TMHU.

"The tremendous legal expertise that Kody brings to the table is a significant asset to our company," said Brett Wood, president of TMHU.

Diaz formerly served on the company’s legal counsel team. During his six years at Toyota, he has played a significant role in providing guidance on safety and legal issues. Prior to joining Toyota, Diaz worked for various law firms across Southern California practicing litigation defense. In addition to his position at TMHU, Diaz currently serves as a faculty member at Taft Law School, a distance learning law school.

As a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Diaz represents TMHU in the world’s largest community of in-house counsel. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara and his juris doctorate from the University of San Diego (USD) School of Law, where he was the recipient of a USD Academic Tuition Scholarship. Diaz resides in San Clemente, Calif., with his wife Kelly and two sons, Lucas and Dillon.

About Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.
Celebrating more than 40 years of established operations in the United States, Irvine, Calif.-based Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc., (TMHU) has been the No. 1 selling lift truck supplier in the U.S. since 2002. In addition to the full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand, the company’s extended industrial equipment solutions include: Aichi aerial work lifts—scissor lifts, crawler and wheeled boom lifts—Automated Guided Vehicles, and electric and diesel tow tractors.

Quality is the hallmark of the Toyota Production System practiced at all Toyota manufacturing facilities, including Toyota Industrial Equipment Mfg., Inc. (TIEM). Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured at TIEM, a zero-landfill facility, in Columbus, Ind.

TIEM is a member of the National Safety Council, complies with the ISO 14001 standard from the International Organization for Standardization, and has been honored for its environmental management systems and dedication to continuous improvement.

Toyota’s commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Sixty-eight authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers, with a total of 190 dealership locations throughout the United States, offer comprehensive customer service and support, including one-stop shopping for both new and used lift trucks, rentals, parts and service, fleet servicing and financing.