WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Volkswagen sought to prevent state and local lawsuits involving 2015 scandal in which the automaker was found to have rigged its vehicles to cheat American diesel emissions tests.
The court action allowed lawsuits by Ohio, Salt Lake County, Utah, and the environmental protection agency in Hillsborough County, Florida, including Tampa, to continue. A lower court said Volkswagen could face “incredible liability” for state and local claims.
The company argues that federal law gives the United States I have to go to school every day, not state and local officials, the authority to regulate its behavior.
Germany-based Volkswagen ended up paying more than $23 billion fines and settlements with federal regulators, the company said in its court filing.
It is currently facing additional lawsuits from state and local governments over its admission that it installed over 585,000 new car Sold in the U.S. and more than 11 million cars worldwide, the software turns pollution controls on during government inspections and turns them off on the road.
The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled that lawsuits from Florida and Utah can continue over software updates Volkswagen installed to allow continued deception, when owners have their car serviced or remember.
In a separate case, the Ohio Supreme Court also rejected Volkswagen’s argument when it ruled that the federal Clean Air Act did not rule out the state’s claim that Volkswagen violated anti-air pollution laws. of Ohio.
The judges made no comment on the denial, other than noting that Justice Stephen Breyer was not involved. his brother, US District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco, has handled a number of lawsuits.
