VW Will Pay The Price For Illegal Defeat Devices

January 19, 2016 / 7:25 am

On September 18, the EPA dropped a bombshell on the automotive world when they delivered a violation notice to Volkswagen AG. It seems that the automotive giant may have been cheating on their emissions tests, and now VW will pay the price for illegal defeat devices.

How Do The Illegal Defeat Devices Work?

A group of researchers at West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions became suspicious of the VW four-cylinder TDI engine while running tests with the International Council on Clean Transportation. The scientists immediately started rigorous testing which confirmed that the test car’s computer was switching fueling settings according to whether or not the vehicle was undergoing an emissions test. This qualified the car’s computer as an illegal defeat device.

The California Air Resources Board later confirmed the findings, which led to a showdown between Volkswagen and the EPA. The auto manufacturer quickly admitted its wrong doing. Now the company is recalling 11 million vehicles—482,000 in the US—and trying to come up with a solution for this massive lie.

How Can They Fix Affected Cars?

A mechanical fix could cost billions of dollars on top of the anticipated fines that the EPA might soon levy against the company. Such a fix could take months to implement, and could cost VW owners weeks as they wait for the repairs to be carried out. If Volkswagen tries to fix the problem by changing computer programming, then many TDI diesel owners could suddenly find their cars under-powered and unable to handle their daily commutes.

The lies of Volkswagen may cost consumers in ways they never imagined, and the class action attorneys at Colson Hicks Eidson want those consumers to know that there are many ways to protect themselves. Visit our VW recall page for more tips on protecting yourself, and stay up-to-date by following our blog.

Colson Hicks Eidson — Personal Injury Attorneys

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Now in its 20th year, Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America recognized Colson Hicks Eidson attorneys Julie Braman Kane, Roberto Martínez, and Curtis Miner for their exceptional work in litigation, plaintiff class action litigation, and white-collar practice areas.

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Curtis has tried cases to jury verdicts against auto manufacturers and airlines and has obtained sizable settlements in individual and plaintiffs’ class action litigation, having served as Class Counsel in cases against financial institutions arising out of Ponzi schemes and as part of court-appointed leadership counsel in the Takata Airbags Products Liability Litigation MDL, securing over $1.5 billion in settlements for classes of millions of vehicle owners.

Roberto has secured significant client wins in high-profile cases, including participating in settlements and judgments totaling in excess of $6 billion.

Click here to read the full guide on Lawdragon.

About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

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“We look forward to presenting the merits of this case at trial. Proton beam radiation therapy has long been recognized as the standard of care for these types of cancers,” she said.

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About Colson Hicks Eidson

Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

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Colson Hicks Eidson is a renowned law firm based in Miami, Florida, that is recognized as one of the top trial firms in the United States. Built on a foundation of over 50 years of dedication to forging strong client relationships, Colson Hicks Eidson handles local, national, and international litigation, with cases spanning from Miami, Florida, and throughout the United States, to matters in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe. Learn more at: www.colson.com.

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At Colson Hicks Eidson, our attorneys have advised and represented clients across the full range of internal investigations, government inquiries, enforcement actions, whistleblower actions, and civil and criminal trials.  For further information, contact us at 305-476-7400 or info@colson.com.

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