Hagens Berman, Quinn Emanuel File New Lawsuit Against VW

LOS ANGELES – Leading consumer rights law firm Hagens Berman and the world’s largest business litigation firm, Quinn Emanuel, today filed a new nationwide class-action lawsuit against Volkswagen on behalf of tens of thousands of owners and lessors of all 2009-2016 3.0-liter Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche diesel vehicles containing VW’s illegal “defeat device” emissions-cheating software.
 
Hagens Berman and Quinn Emanuel have filed seven class actions arising from the emissions scandal, seeking swift remedies for consumers affected by Volkswagen’s fraud and violation of the Clean Air Act and a host of state regulations. The new suit filed Nov. 24, 2015 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California pertains to owners of newly affected vehicles, including Volkswagen Touareg (2014), Porsche Cayenne (2015), Audi A6 Quattro (2016), Audi A7 Quattro (2016), Audi A8 (2016), Audi A8L (2016) and Audi Q5 (2016).
 
The suit states that discovery will reveal additional model years of affected vehicles, including: VW Touareg (2013 – 2016), Audi A6 (2014 – 2016), Audi A7 (2014 – 2016), Audi A8 (2014 – 2016), Audi A8L (2014 – 2016), Audi Q5 (2014 – 2016), Audi Q7 (2013 – 2016) and Porsche Cayenne (2014 – 2016).
 
Volkswagen also installed its deceptive software in the following diesel models of its vehicles, according to the EPA: Jetta CleanDiesel (2009 – 2015), Jetta Sportswagen (2009 – 2014), Beetle and Beetle convertible CleanDiesel (2012 – 2015), Audi A3 TDI (2010 – 2015), Golf CleanDiesel (2010 – 2015), Golf Sportswagen CleanDiesel (2015), and Passat CleanDiesel (2012 – 2015).
 
Hagens Berman and Quinn Emanuel continue to expand their lawsuits and are seeking information from affected owners. If you own one of the vehicles listed above, contact our legal team now.
 
Affected vehicles emit nitrogen oxides (NOX) at up to nine times the standard allowed under federal and state laws and regulations during normal operation.
 
“Volkswagen has breached warranties, defrauded customers and engaged in unfair competition under state and federal laws,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman. “As our litigation continues, we want no stone left unturned. VW has proven that it can’t be trusted, and we will fight for a fair outcome for those affected by this sweeping scheme, and a fair consequence to Volkswagen.”
 
“It’s unfathomable that VW hasn’t for some time known which of its cars break the law,” said Quinn Emanuel’s managing partner, John Quinn. “That it continues to own up to its fraud only grudgingly speaks volumes about its candor even now.”
 
The new suit states that Volkswagen “purposefully evaded federal and state laws,” by installing sophisticated software in Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche 3.0-liter diesel vehicles sold in the United States. The emissions-cheating software detects when the vehicle is undergoing official emissions testing and turns on “temperature conditioning mode,” according to the complaint. In this mode, the vehicles emit pollutants below the legal limit. At all other times, however, the vehicle operates in “normal mode,” during which it emits pollutants far in excess of what is permitted by law.
 
Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at the EPA, characterized the new development pertaining to additional 3.0-liter vehicles as follows: “VW has once again failed its obligation to comply with the law that protects clean air for all Americans.”
 
“While VW continues to drag its feet, owners of these dirty cars are still suffering loss of vehicle value for a car that pollutes beyond legal limits,” Berman added. “Volkswagen has dropped the ball, leaving hundreds of thousands of U.S. owners stuck in limbo with no answers.”
 
To help combat VW’s fraud and delayed response, Hagens Berman has launched a VW owners’ resource hub to help guide owners of affected Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche vehicles through the process, including a VW Owner FAQ about the case, what recoveries VW owners may expect and the litigation process, including Volkswagen’s Goodwill Package.
 
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About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights class-action law firm with offices in 10 cities. The firm has been named to the National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Hot List eight times. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.

About Quinn Emanuel
Quinn Emanuel is a 700-lawyer business litigation firm. With 18 offices globally, it is the largest law firm in the world devoted solely to business litigation. Firm lawyers have tried over 2,300 cases, winning 88.2% of them. Four times the firm has been voted one of the four “most feared” firms by General Counsels at Fortune 500 companies — the lawyers they “least like to see” on the other side. Further information is available at www.quinnemanuel.com.