Volkswagen Emissions Lawsuits May Be Consolidated Into MDL

A California Volkswagen Diesel plaintiff recently made the first consolidation bid to unite all of the Volkswagen Diesel lawsuits in the Central District of California.

Plaintiff Christopher D’Angelo, hopes that all the Volkswagen lawsuits that have been filed across the nation will be consolidated and brought before a single Los Angeles based federal judge, the honorable Fernando M. Olguin.

In D’Angelo’s bid to the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation he suggests that California is the most logical location for the Volkswagen Diesel lawsuits to be initially heard.

According to D’Angelo, six cases against Volkswagen are already pending in the Central California District court. The plaintiff also suggests that California has an integral interest in managing the litigation due to the Central District’s familiarity with handling these types of cases and the fact that California’s Air Resource Board has been working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In further support of his argument D’ Angelo points to the Hyundai and Kia fuel economy multidistrict litigation the Central District of California is handling.

Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

The Volkswagen Diesel lawsuits began after reports surfaced that Volkswagen had intentionally installed electronic cheating devices that allowed them to pass EPA emissions tests in millions of Volkswagen brand cars. These cars were marketed as “Clean Diesel” and environmentally friendly vehicles.

Advertisements for the cars suggested they were better for the environment and more fuel efficient than other Volkswagen models on the market, when in fact the Clean Diesel automobiles produced emissions levels 10 to 40 times above EPA compliance levels.

According to statements released by Volkswagen, over 11 million vehicles have the cheating device installed and it will cost the company approximately $7.2 billion dollars to remove them all.

Diesel Emissions Lawsuits

Several lawsuits have already been filed against Volkswagen and product liability attorneys expect hundreds more are on their way. The Clean Diesel lawsuits allege that the automobile company violated the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, and other Racketeering laws.

Plaintiffs’ claims also include fraud, breach of contract, deceptive business practices, unjust enrichment, and breach of warranty. The plaintiffs involved in the lawsuits are seeking damages in the form of the purchase price of their vehicles along with other forms of compensation.

Along with several civil lawsuits, Volkswagen is currently facing several regulatory penalties and potential criminal investigations. In fact, the Attorney General of New York recently announced his office would be pursuing a criminal investigation.

Product liability attorneys are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Volkswagen lawsuits. Affected vehicles span a wide range and include various models of Jettas, Golfs, Passats, and Beetles. Some of the affected models rage as far back as 2009.

Whether or not a person has a perusable legal claim is a determination that should be made on a case by case basis with the advice of a legal professional.

The VW Diesel Emissions Lawsuit is In re: Volkswagen “Clean” Diesel Liability, pending number 110, in the U.S. Judicial Panel On Multidistrict Litigation.

UPDATE: On June 28, 2016, Volkswagen reached proposed settlements with both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission following the VW emissions scandal. VW’s deal with the DOJ includes up to $14.7 billion along with vehicle buyback provisions as well as funding for pollution control programs. In addition to the DOJ settlement, Volkswagen will also spend up to $10 billion in a buyback and lease termination settlement with the FTC that is expected to include about 475,000 vehicles.

UPDATE 2: The Volkswagen, Audi diesel emissions class action settlement is now open! Click here to file a claim!