SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(ATTORNEY ADVERTISING)—Attorneys at Keller Rohrback L.L.P. have now filed seven nationwide class action lawsuits on behalf of plaintiffs in 43 states and Washington D.C. against Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. and Germany-based Volkswagen AG to promote truth in commerce across the nation.
Keller Rohrback’s most recent complaints, filed in federal court in Michigan and New Jersey, allege that Volkswagen violated a landmark federal anti-corruption law, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or “RICO”.
Specifically, the complaint alleges that former Volkswagen AG CEO Martin Winterkorn and others “exploited their positions of authority as well as the legitimacy and infrastructure of Volkswagen AG and its subsidiaries to perpetrate fraud against American consumers as well as state and federal regulators for their own personal and professional gain.”
That and other claims stem from Volkswagen’s practice, since at least 2009, of advertising and selling “clean” diesel cars that are more accurately described as “dirty”. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Volkswagen equipped those vehicles with “defeat devices” that cause them to emit up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxide, one of the leading causes of childhood asthma in the United States.
“Volkswagen has admitted to nationwide deception and our clients want and deserve what’s fair,” said Gretchen Freeman Cappio, a partner and experienced litigator at Keller Rohrback. “We’ve had thousands of people contact us since the EPA sent out a Notice of Violation, and we are working tirelessly to hold Volkswagen accountable for its wrongdoing.”
As stated in the complaints, Volkswagen “exploited its consumers’ trust in its brand and reputation for developing environmentally-friendly vehicles.”
Consumers paid a premium for TDI CleanDiesel vehicles, in some cases up to 31% more than a gasoline model, according to Keller Rohrback’s lawsuit. Consumers who believed they were buying or leasing low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles, instead ended up with cars that pollute so much they violate the Clean Air Act.
If you or someone you care about owns or leases any of the affected vehicles described below, or if you are concerned that your vehicle may be affected, please call attorneys Gretchen Freeman Cappio, Matthew Preusch, Ryan McDevitt, or Daniel Mensher at 866.560.4043 or via email at vw@kellerrohrback.com to discuss our investigation and your potential claims against Volkswagen. Additional information, including a link to Keller Rohrback’s informative Volkswagen Diesel Resource Center for consumers, is available at www.krcomplexlit.com.
According to the EPA, the affected models and model years (“MY”) include:
- Jetta (MY 2009–2015)
- Jetta Sportwagen (MY 2009–2014)
- Beetle (MY 2012–2015)
- Beetle Convertible (MY 2012–2015)
- Audi A3 (MY 2010–2015)
- Golf (MY 2010–2015)
- Golf Sportwagen (MY 2015)
- Passat (MY 2012–2015)
Keller Rohrback L.L.P. is a leading consumer protection firm with extensive experience in environmental litigation. Our nationally-recognized complex litigation group serves as lead and co-lead counsel in class actions throughout the country, obtaining settlements in excess of seven billion dollars. With offices in Seattle, Phoenix, New York, Montana, and Santa Barbara, our trial and appellate attorneys are proud to offer their expertise and advocate on behalf of clients nationwide.
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