New Jersey motorists may be interested to learn that the civil suits filed against Volkswagen AG are scheduled to begin soon. The company has been under fire recently for allegedly misleading authorities about the emissions its vehicles actually cause.
Sources report that more than 500 lawsuits have been filed against Volkswagen. The hearings are scheduled to be held in California; a fifth of the cased that have been thus far filed were brought in California. The issue will be heard in the Northern District of California and presided over by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, the brother of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
A representative for Volkswagen claims that the company intends to defend itself against breach of contract claims and other allegations that it misled consumers and authorities. It is believed that Volkswagen vehicles were equipped with software that was able to detect the presence of an emissions test and automatically lower the vehicle’s emissions in response. Once the vehicle was again in motion, it would return to its normal, non-authorized level of emissions release. In addition to the consolidated lawsuits being filed, Volkswagen also faces lawsuits on securities allegations and from some owners who claim they should not have to make payments on their current vehicle loans.
Civil litigation cases such as these often involve a complex array of legal issues that can be difficult for companies to manage on their own. Businesses that are either facing such a lawsuit or are interested in pursuing one may want to have the guidance of a business litigation firm throughout the process. Legal counsel can often negotiate a settlement that would avoid a lengthy trial.