Volkswagen commits massive fraud, House introduces bill to make it harder to sue Volkswagen as a class

[ksen]

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Colum...-Congress-Wants-Do-Something-Absolutely-Crazy

The combination of regulatory oversight and class-action litigation can keep companies in line. But a bill in Congress consisting of a little more than 100 words would not only prevent Kaplan from seeking justice but also cripple virtually all class-action lawsuits against corporations. It’s known as the “Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act,” but lawyers and advocates call it the “VW Bailout Bill.”

The bill, which will get a vote on the House floor in the first week of January, follows a series of steps by the judiciary to block the courthouse door on behalf of corporations.

Apparently redressing grievances with businesses in court is too much government interference in the Free Market for House Republicans.

Whelp, there's always the guillotine.

 

[dismal]

Well, Volkswagen isn't a class. So, yeah.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

No surprise. Companies have been trying and trying to protect themselves from accountability in the legal system. One more attempt is hardly news.

 

[SimpleDon]

Well, Volkswagen isn't a class. So, yeah.

No, the owners of the cars are a class. The bill is meant to force the owners to have to sue individually, which will never happen, instead of combining all of the owners into a single class and having one trial.

 

[ronburgundy]

No surprise. Companies have been trying and trying to protect themselves from accountability in the legal system. One more attempt is hardly news.

Also not a surprise that the party of Corporatism would try to cripple the people's ability to protect themselves from corporate violence and theft.

 

[ksen]

Well, Volkswagen isn't a class. So, yeah.

No, the owners of the cars are a class. The bill is meant to force the owners to have to sue individually, which will never happen, instead of combining all of the owners into a single class and having one trial.

Don, he already knows that.

Dismal's gotta dismal.

 

[KeepTalking]

Well, Volkswagen isn't a class. So, yeah.

No, the owners of the cars are a class. The bill is meant to force the owners to have to sue individually, which will never happen, instead of combining all of the owners into a single class and having one trial.

He knows that, but the thread title was poorly worded, allowing one to come to the conclusion that dismal typed.

 

[dismal]

Well, Volkswagen isn't a class. So, yeah.

No, the owners of the cars are a class. The bill is meant to force the owners to have to sue individually, which will never happen, instead of combining all of the owners into a single class and having one trial.

Now, I'm no expert in pollution control devices and software, but I would imagine the car owners are beneficiaries of this. Cheaper car, more power, better mileage. The ostensible victims would be the class called "breathers".

 

[ksen]

Don't fall for it don!!

 

[Bronzeage]

No, the owners of the cars are a class. The bill is meant to force the owners to have to sue individually, which will never happen, instead of combining all of the owners into a single class and having one trial.

Now, I'm no expert in pollution control devices and software, but I would imagine the car owners are beneficiaries of this. Cheaper car, more power, better mileage. The ostensible victims would be the class called "breathers".

The resale value of a car which fails an emission test is it's weight in scrap metal. The cheaper car comes at a price. I'm sure a VW owner who has 36 more notes to go and the payoff on the loan is $29k, and can't renew their license plate, will feel a little bit like a victim.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

Dismal's gotta dismal.

Yep.

 

[SimpleDon]

No, the owners of the cars are a class. The bill is meant to force the owners to have to sue individually, which will never happen, instead of combining all of the owners into a single class and having one trial.

Now, I'm no expert in pollution control devices and software, but I would imagine the car owners are beneficiaries of this. Cheaper car, more power, better mileage. The ostensible victims would be the class called "breathers".

You have the heart of a natural born defense attorney. A silver lining on every cloud!

 

[ImGod]

Technically the cars can pass emissions tests. They just don't if they are measured while actually moving instead of the back tires standing still. It seems like a simple software fix to get them into compliance. However, you will take an hit in performance while moving. I'm not sure how you quantify that into monetary damages though. I'm sure they would figure that out in a class action lawsuit. My guess $50-100 per car tops.

VW could help people out with a software "switch" for economy/performance mode mounted under the dash.

 

[dismal]

Now, I'm no expert in pollution control devices and software, but I would imagine the car owners are beneficiaries of this. Cheaper car, more power, better mileage. The ostensible victims would be the class called "breathers".

The resale value of a car which fails an emission test is it's weight in scrap metal. The cheaper car comes at a price. I'm sure a VW owner who has 36 more notes to go and the payoff on the loan is $29k, and can't renew their license plate, will feel a little bit like a victim.

Have they confiscated all the cars? I was under the impression people were still driving them.

 

[dismal]

Now, I'm no expert in pollution control devices and software, but I would imagine the car owners are beneficiaries of this. Cheaper car, more power, better mileage. The ostensible victims would be the class called "breathers".

You have the heart of a natural born defense attorney. A silver lining on every cloud!

As a general rule when something improves cost and performance they don't call it "a pollution control device".

Come to think of it, the rest of us who have taken this cost and performance hit for the good of the air should sue these free-riding Volkswagen drivers for reparations as a class.

 

[Jayjay]

You have the heart of a natural born defense attorney. A silver lining on every cloud!

As a general rule when something improves cost and performance they don't call it "a pollution control device".

The whole idea of Volkswagen's innovation was to just fudge the numbers instead of improving actual performance. It's like selling a box of cereals with a label "Now 25% less calories" when it should read "Now with 100% more labels on the box claiming less calories!"

 

[dismal]

As a general rule when something improves cost and performance they don't call it "a pollution control device".

The whole idea of Volkswagen's innovation was to just fudge the numbers instead of improving actual performance. It's like selling a box of cereals with a label "Now 25% less calories" when it should read "Now with 100% more labels on the box claiming less calories!"

My understanding was they fudged the number on the amount of pollution being controlled. This means lower cost and higher performance (power, gas mileage, etc) than what it would have taken to actually control the pollution.

The drivers got better performance. Breathers got worse air. There is, however, some overlap between the two.

 

[fromderinside]

The resale value of a car which fails an emission test is it's weight in scrap metal. The cheaper car comes at a price. I'm sure a VW owner who has 36 more notes to go and the payoff on the loan is $29k, and can't renew their license plate, will feel a little bit like a victim.

Have they confiscated all the cars? I was under the impression people were still driving them.

If anyone drive them after the car fails test they are breaking the law. I'm pretty certain that at some the owner would get tired of collecting tickets or being held in jail. In effect, fail the test, lose the car as a useful thing.

You know this. You're just having another dismal.

 

[dismal]

Have they confiscated all the cars? I was under the impression people were still driving them.

If anyone drive them after the car fails test they are breaking the law. I'm pretty certain that at some the owner would get tired of collecting tickets or being held in jail. In effect, fail the test, lose the car as a useful thing.

You know this. You're just having another dismal.

Is this being done to the drivers? I have not seen it reported.

 

[fromderinside]

Is this being done to the drivers? I have not seen it reported.

Just trying out my dismal. Owners unknowingly broke the law driving cars that weren't road worthy according to current law. Lying is not a legitimate reason to take money from buyers. So, if those who shopped for cars had actual information about the cars 1. they wouldn't buy them or, 2. if they did buy them they would knowingly break laws. Either way a bad deal for the buying public.