VW: Compensation for diesel victims?

There had already been a settlement with the VZBV, which provided for the payment of up to 830 million euros. However, according to VW, a binding settlement had failed due to "unfounded high demands by the trial lawyers", who had demanded 50 million euros for the settlement and had not agreed to a fee review.

Comparison without support
According to VW, however, this should not be at the expense of the affected plaintiffs. Therefore, the car company now wants to offer the already negotiated settlement to vehicle owners who have registered for the model declaratory action and meet the settlement criteria, even without the support of the consumer advice center.

Claims before 115 regional courts
Dr. Manfred Döss, General Counsel of Volkswagen AG: "The model declaratory judgment procedure has been designed by the legislator in such a way that even after a prompt decision by the Higher Regional Court of Braunschweig and the Federal Court of Justice, hundreds of thousands of customers would have to assert their alleged claims before 115 regional courts in Germany. Further years would pass before individual final judgments were pronounced. This feat of strength would be impossible for the German judiciary to master. A settlement in these proceedings is therefore the most sensible solution for everyone: for the customers, for the judiciary and for Volkswagen."

Platform for aggrieved customers
VW is working on the creation of a platform. From the end of March, this should enable settlement-eligible customers to receive an offer tailored to them for a one-off payment. Until then, interested parties can sign up online for an e-mail newsletter to be kept up to date by the company on the settlement. It remains to be seen whether and if so to what extent aggrieved Swiss customers will be considered in the current development of the case.

Source: auto-medienportal
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