Hausfeld Announces Cooperation with BEUC European Consumer Organization's National Consumer Groups

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 13, 2017 -- Hausfeld has announced it is working with the national consumer groups of The European Consumer Organization (“BEUC”) to represent car owners affected by the Volkswagen emissions scandal and demand compensation in European courts. BEUC is the European umbrella organization based in Brussels which represents the interests of all of Europe’s consumers. Today, Hausfeld announced it is working with four of BEUC’s member groups in Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland¹ on behalf of consumers affected by Volkswagen’s clean diesel scandal. Since the scandal broke, Hausfeld has been working tirelessly on both sides of the Atlantic to remedy the harm to consumers and the environment.  BEUC and its member organizations, national consumer groups, have been also working together to hold VW accountable for its fraudulent practices and to compensate consumers.

BEUC consists of 43 independent member organizations representing 31 European countries. Founded in 1962 BEUC has been at the forefront of consumer rights in Europe for over half a century.  BEUC represents the interests of consumers to the institutions of the European Union, and is recognized and well respected at as trustworthy consumer representative throughout Europe.
                                        
Since 2016 German consumers have been able to sign up through www.myright.de to join a group action against Volkswagen that Hausfeld plans to file in October, 2017. Now, affected car owners from these additional four countries can register either directly with their national consumer organization² (in Slovenia) or on the claims platform myRight³ (for Lithuania, Slovakia and Switzerland). The goal is to bring claims against VW in a German court in order to obtain compensation. Other consumer organizations are also considering launching their own legal actions.

Two years ago, VW admitted that it deceived consumers by equipping more than 10 million diesel cars worldwide with illegal emission control systems. Despite VW’s fraudulent “clean” diesel marketing, the car maker refuses to compensate consumers outside the U.S., where VW was ready to settle quickly with authorities and car owners. 

Michael Hausfeld, Chairman of Hausfeld LLP, said: “We are excited to announce this cooperation with BEUC, expanding the possibilities for consumers throughout Europe to obtain justice for Volkswagen’s wrongdoing.”

In many European countries, consumers are left defenseless without collective redress procedures. As a result, these four consumer organizations are cooperating with Hausfeld to join forces and ensure that all possible legal remedies for consumers are exploited. Through this cooperation, consumers will be able to seek accountability without economic risk.

For further information or to arrange interviews please contact:

Deborah Schwartz
Media Relations
(240) 355-8838
[email protected]

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT HAUSFELD

Hausfeld is a leading global law firm with offices in Berlin, Boston, Brussels, Dusseldorf, London, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. The firm has a broad range of complex litigation expertise, particularly in antitrust/competition, financial services, sports and entertainment, environmental, mass torts, consumer protection, and human rights matters, often with an international dimension. Hausfeld aims to achieve the best possible results for clients through its practical and commercial approach, avoiding litigation where feasible, yet litigating robustly when necessary. Hausfeld’s extensive experience with alternative and innovative fee models offers clients a diverse menu of engagement options and maximum flexibility in terms of managing their cost exposure.

Hausfeld is the only claimants’ firm to be ranked by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a top tier firm in private enforcement of antitrust/competition law in both the United States and the United Kingdom. For more information about the firm, including recent trial victories and landmark settlements, please visit www.hausfeld.com

¹ Lietuvos vartotojų organizacijų aljansas (Lithuania), Spoločnosť ochrany spotrebiteľov (S.O.S.) Poprad (Slovakia), Zveza Potrošnikov Slovenije (Slovenia), Fédération Romande des Consommateurs (Switzerland)
² Claims will be collected through dedicated webpage www.prevwara.si
³ myRight (www.myright.de) collects claims of individuals who assign their claims to the platform to take legal action. Their goal is to obtain compensation and redistribute it among the individuals whose claims it has collected.