Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann Seeks Centralization of All Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” Marketing, Sales Practices and Product Liability Litigation in the Central District of California

Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP (“BLB&G”), representing a proposed nationwide class of owners and lessees of vehicles equipped with Volkswagen "TDI Clean Diesel" engines, filed its request to centralize all Volkswagen “clean diesel” marketing, sales practices and product liability litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The request covers all class actions and individual lawsuits seeking compensation for consumers injured by Volkswagen’s admitted illegal practice of installing sophisticated software designed to cheat clean air standards.

The affected vehicles include:

• Audi A3 TDI (2009-15)
• Beetle TDI (2009-15)
• Beetle Convertible TDI (2009-15)
• Golf TDI (2009-15)
• Golf SportWagen TDI (2009-2015)
• Jetta TDI (2009-15)
• Jetta SportWagen TDI (2009-2015)
• Passat TDI (2012-15)

More than 150 putative class actions have been filed nationwide against Volkswagen involving the emissions scandal. BLB&G Partner Blair A. Nicholas, who is leading the firm’s Volkswagen litigation team, said today “the Central District of California is the most suitable court to hold centralized pre-trial proceedings because of its extensive experience handling complex automotive defect litigation, including involving foreign automakers.” Mr. Nicholas further explained that “the Central District was the focus of Volkswagen’s fraud because California has the strictest emissions standards in the United States, which Volkswagen’s defeat device was designed to circumvent. California suffered the greatest impact from the misconduct, as Volkswagen sells more cars in California than in any other state, maintains several facilities in the Central District of California (including the company’s largest “Test Center” and only emissions test laboratory in North America), and Volkswagen’s pervasive cheating on emissions tests was brought to light by the California Air Resources Board.”

Volkswagen has admitted that it rigged software in TDI models for the purpose of cheating on California and federal EPA emissions tests, allowing its vehicles to emit harmful particulates and chemicals as much as forty times the permitted levels. "Our company was dishonest, with the EPA and the California Air Resources Board, and with all of you and in my German words, we have totally screwed up," stated Michael Horn, Chief Executive of the Volkswagen Group of America. Most recently, Volkswagen announced that it would “refit” up to 11 million vehicles worldwide to fix the illegal software. Volkswagen, however, has not disclosed how any proposed “refit” will affect the value of the vehicles and the superior performance, mileage and emissions that Volkswagen promised consumers. “Volkswagen’s cheating of California and federal pollution standards is truly shocking and reprehensible and all affected consumers have a right to be made whole,” said Mr. Nicholas.

BLB&G’s class action seeks to recover the full extent of damages suffered by consumers as a result of Volkswagen’s fraudulent conduct, including punitive damages. If you purchased or leased one of the affected vehicles identified above and would like to discuss your legal rights or interest with respect to the pending litigation, please contact Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP (Rachel Felong, Esq.) at (888) 924-1888 or (858) 720-3180, or via e-mail at Rachel.Felong@blbglaw.com.

BLB&G partners Blair Nicholas and Benjamin Galdston are leading the firm's litigation team in the action against Volkswagen. Additional information regarding the Volkswagen case, including a copy of the class action complaint, is available at www.blbglaw.com/volkswagen. BLB&G is widely recognized as one of the leading plaintiffs’ class action law firms worldwide and has recovered over $28 billion on behalf of victims of corporate wrongdoing. More information about BLB&G can be found online at www.blbglaw.com.

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Contact information

Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP
Rachel Felong, Esq., 858-720-3180
Rachel.Felong@blbglaw.com