Keller Rohrback L.L.P. Files Class Action Lawsuit on Behalf of Consumers Nationwide Who Purchased or Leased Volkswagens With Unlawful “Defeat Devices”

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–(Attorney Advertising)—Keller Rohrback L.L.P. has filed a
nationwide class
action complaint
against Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., alleging
that the auto maker deliberately deceived well-meaning,
environmentally-conscious consumers and regulators when it installed
defeat devices in 482,000 Volkswagen and Audi vehicles.


As a result of that deception, the complaint says, consumers nationwide
paid a premium for vehicles that did not perform as promised while
releasing as much as 40 times the amount of pollution as advertised
during normal driving conditions.

Last week, the EPA issued a Notice
of Violation stating that Volkswagen
violated the Clean Air Act by
including so-called defeat devices in certain diesel passenger cars.

Following that announcement, Keller Rohrback, a leading national firm
for consumer class actions, filed the complaint in federal court in the
Central District of California Sunday on behalf of seven named
plaintiffs from three states: California, Washington, and Connecticut.

The lawsuit claims violations of multiple state and federal consumer and
environmental laws, and asks for damages, restitution, and injunctive
relief, among other things, for consumers nationwide.

Longtime consumer advocate Lynn Lincoln Sarko, Managing Partner of
Keller Rohrback L.L.P. and attorney for the plaintiffs, echoed the
sentiments of consumers nationwide: “Volkswagen’s decision to prey on
environmentally-conscious consumers who paid a premium of thousands of
dollars for a supposedly cleaner-running car, and who received a
polluting vehicle instead, is despicable. Consumers nationwide are
justifiably outraged, and Volkswagen will have to answer to them.”

The complaint describes in detail how Volkswagen intentionally installed
“defeat devices” in some vehicles to cheat emission tests.

“The defeat devices [Volkswagen] designed and installed work by
switching on the full emissions control systems in [the] cars only
when the car is undergoing periodic emissions testing. The technology
needed to control emissions from Defendant’s cars to meet state and
federal emissions regulations reduce their performance, limiting
acceleration, torque, and fuel efficiency,” the complaint says.

“To hide this,” the Complaint says, “the defeat device simply shut off
most of the emissions control systems in the cars once the car has
completed its emissions test.” This resulted “in Defendant’s cars
sending up to 40 times as much pollution into the environment as is
allowed under the Clean Air Act and state regulations.”

The plaintiffs in the complaint are representative of thousands of
similarly situated consumers nationwide. According to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Volkswagen installed its “defeat
device” in the listed affected
models
:

  • Jetta (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Beetle (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Audi A3 (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Golf (Model Years 2009–2015)
  • Passat (Model Years 2014–2015)

If you or a family member owns or leases any of the affected vehicles
described above that vehicle is subject to a recall, or if you are
concerned that your vehicle is part of the recall, please call attorneys
Gretchen Freeman Cappio, Matthew Preusch, or Daniel Mensher at
800.776.6044 or via email at consumer@kellerrohrback.com
to discuss our investigation and your potential claims against
Volkswagen. Additional information is available at www.krcomplexlit.com.

Keller Rohrback L.L.P., with offices in Seattle, Phoenix, New York, and
Santa Barbara, serves as lead and co-lead counsel in class actions
throughout the country. Our Complex Litigation Group is proud to offer
its expertise to clients nationwide, and our trial lawyers have obtained
judgments and settlements on behalf of clients in excess of seven
billion dollars.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contacts

Keller Rohrback L.L.P.
Gretchen Freeman Cappio, Matthew Preusch, or
Daniel Mensher
800-776-6044
consumer@kellerrohrback.com
www.krcomplexlit.com

Recibe gratis todas las noticias en tu correo

Este sitio está protegido por reCAPTCHA y Google Política de privacidad y Se aplican las Condiciones de servicio.

¡Muchas gracias! Ya estás suscrito a nuestro newsletter

Más sobre este tema
Contenido Patrocinado
Enlaces patrocinados por Outbrain