NEWS & INSIGHTS  October 2015  The Ryder Law Firm
DearGreetings!,
  
On September 22, 2015, Volkswagen publicly admitted that 11 million of its vehicles were equipped with software that was used to manipulate emissions control tests. It is estimated that about 500,000 of these vehicles were sold in the United States. This came a mere few days after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice to Volkswagen. According to the EPA, Volkswagen marketed these automobiles as being "Clean Diesels" when in reality the emissions on these vehicles fail to comply with the Clean Air Act. 

On October 2, 2015, our office, along with the Law Office of Kerri Johnson Riley, filed suit in federal court against Volkswagen Group of America and Volkswagen AG, its parent company. In addition to being an exceptional attorney, Kerri also has a degree in chemical engineering, which makes her particularly well suited for this type of case.
 
We are seeking nationwide class certification for all current owners, whether they purchased the vehicles new or used. It is our contention that, through its actions, Volkswagen has defrauded consumers, breached their contractual obligations, and violated Alabama's Deceptive Trade Practices Act. We are seeking compensation, to include the resulting loss of value of the vehicles and anticipated additional fuel consumption costs, if and when they are modified to comply with the Clean Air Act, and punitive damages for Volkswagen's conduct.

Volkswagen "Clean Diesel" Claims
If you own a Volkswagen or Audi diesel, you need to understand your rights and make sure that they are protected. At this time, it is believed that the affected vehicles are:
  • Volkswagen Jetta (model years 2009-2015)
  • Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen (model years 2009-2015)
  • Volkswagen Beetle (model years 2012-2015)
  • Volkswagen Beetle Convertible (model years 2012-2015)
  • Audi A3 (model years 2010-2015)
  • Volkswagen Golf (model years 2010-2015)
  • Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen (model year 2015)
  • Volkswagen Passat (model years 2012-2015)
The scope of the predicament appears to be limited to Volkswagens and Audis with 4 cylinder diesel engines.

The problem arises from a deliberate effort by Volkswagen to manipulate the results of testing, so that the vehicles appear to have very low emissions. In reality, however, the emissions of these vehicles are only as low as advertised when undergoing this testing. Under "real world" driving conditions, the vehicles' emissions levels are several times higher and, therefore, fail to comply with the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

Exactly what must be done and what Volkswagen intends to do to correct this problem is unknown. It is certain, however, that consumers have been sold automobiles that were much different than as represented to them. The affected vehicles will have to be modified to comply with the requirements of the Clean Air Act. Doing so will significantly decrease fuel efficiency, torque, and horsepower - some of the key selling points for these cars.

Existing production of these cars has been halted and those on dealers' lots have been removed from inventory. It is likely that the needed modifications to comply with federal and state laws will have a substantial effect on the resale value of these vehicles, as well as their performance and anticipated future fuel costs, due to decreased fuel efficiency.

If you have purchased one of these vehicles, whether new or used, contact us today. At the Ryder Law Firm, we are committed to holding Volkswagen responsible for this deception and helping you receive the compensation that you deserve.
 
Brad Ryder