Class Action/Mass Torts

Volkswagen has reached proposed Settlements involving 2.0-liter Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), the California Attorney General, the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”), the Federal Trade Commission, and current vehicle owners/lessees and certain former vehicle owners/lessees in the United States. If the proposed Settlements are approved by the California Judge, then Volkswagen has agreed to: Buy back, terminate leases or provide approved emissions modifications for nearly 475,000 2.0-liter…

Despite two multi­-million­-dollar verdicts this year against Johnson & Johnson for its talc products causing ovarian cancer in women who used it for feminine hygiene, the company continues to sell these products without safety warnings. Johnson & Johnson faces several more decisive trials on the same issue this year and several already scheduled for next year from California to St. Louis to New Jersey. Clifford Law Offices, a leading mass tort/class action law firm, represents…

Various news outlets are reporting alleged details of a proposed settlement in the VW class action case, but due to the judge’s gag order, we cannot credibly address those reports. The anticipated official announcement of any settlement by the court is expected in the upcoming weeks. Please remember to monitor the Court’s website for the most current and accurate reports of case developments: http://www.cand.uscourts.gov/crb/vwmdl  

Long thought to be safe (so safe that it was heavily marketed for use on babies’ bottoms to keep them dry in their diapers), it has been discovered that talc and talcum powder actually contains harmful carcinogenic ingredients like asbestos. Talc and Talcum Powder lawsuits became front-page news with the $55 million verdict in May, 2016, when a South Dakota woman was found to have ovarian cancer caused by her use of talc for feminine…

In a significant pre-trial ruling (Tuesday, May 10, 2016), a federal district court judge found in favor of plaintiffs in the national class action case against Pella windows for selling defective windows to thousands of customers over a period of years. U.S. District Court Judge James B. Zagel of the Northern District of Illinois today ruled that potential claims can be litigated under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, 815 ILCS 501/1,…

Volkswagen agreed (on Thursday, April 21, 2016), to repair or buy back nearly 500,000 diesel cars in the United States that are equipped with illegal emissions software. Following the filing of class action lawsuits from thousands of disgruntled car buyers of certain models that were affected, the once largest car maker in the world, VW, reached a proposed settlement in San Francisco federal court with the federal government as well as with lawyers for the…

Kenneth Feinberg, an attorney internationally recognized for working out payments to victims of the BP Gulf oil spill, General Motors ignition switch scandal, the 9/11 victims’ compensation fund and other high-profile cases, has been hired by Volkswagen to work in a similar capacity to resolve thousands of lawsuits involving its emissions scandal. The German automaker has said that Feinberg, 70, will design and administer an independent claims programs for owners of the affected diesel cars…

A federal judge in the Northern District of California has been assigned to handle the multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving the Volkswagen emissions scandal. That means that all of the cases filed, more than 500 class actions in 60 different federal courts across the country, will be transferred to U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer who will hear all of the actions. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation selected Judge Breyer, the brother of Supreme Court…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently revealed that the Volkswagen emissions scam extends to thousands more cars including the 2015 Porsche Cayenne, the 2014 Touareg and the several more Audi models. In September, it was revealed that as many as 11 million cars were affected worldwide. The New York Times reported yesterday (Nov. 2, 2015) that the EPA discovered emissions-cheating software on more vehicles than previously reported, and now has found the illegal software…