You could be owed money! Thousands of car owners could get payments as Toyota faces major lawsuit
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A class action lawsuit is being lodged against Toyota in Victoria’s Supreme Court over allegations the company used a 'diesel defeat device' to circumvent emission restrictions – and you could be entitled to a payout if your car is affected.
The case will be handled by Maddens Lawyers in Melbourne on Tuesday, with the potential to affect up to half a million drivers across Australia.
Diesel defeat devices are parts of a car—hardware, software, even designs—that alter how it drives, obstructing or disabling authorised pollution controls.
This technology was found in vehicles as early as the 1970s, and more recently, it has sparked several legal disputes in Australia and other countries.
The Federal Court, for instance, imposed the second-highest penalty for a violation of the Australian Consumer Law in December 2019 when it ordered Volkswagen to pay $125 million for disguising emissions from its diesel vehicles.
In a case brought forward by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Volkswagen admitted that between 2011 and 2015, defeat devices were used to cause cars to operate in one mode during emissions tests and another on the road.
The investigation covered 43 different models from the VW Group companies Audi AG, Skoda Auto AS, SEAT SA, Porsche AG, Bentley Motors Limited, and Lamborghini SpA.
In the end, the company's High Court appeal against this record fine last year was unsuccessful.
This isn't an isolated incident either; class action lawsuits against Volkswagen Group entities were also filed in 2015 by the legal firm Maurice Blackburn – with settlements approved last year – which saw payments of approximately $2800 made directly to their owners (i.e. people who had purchased/ leased any one of these 43 vehicle models at any time between 2011- 2015).
While it's not yet clear what compensation Toyota car owners can potentially receive if the case is successful, this latest lawsuit against Toyota could see even bigger payouts for eligible claimants.
So, if you own or lease a Toyota vehicle, be sure to collate all necessary documents that serve as proof of ownership.
Are you aware that car companies can be sued for using engines that can disrupt the environment? If not, are you surprised by this news? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
The case will be handled by Maddens Lawyers in Melbourne on Tuesday, with the potential to affect up to half a million drivers across Australia.
Diesel defeat devices are parts of a car—hardware, software, even designs—that alter how it drives, obstructing or disabling authorised pollution controls.
This technology was found in vehicles as early as the 1970s, and more recently, it has sparked several legal disputes in Australia and other countries.
Toyota is going to be sued for allegedly using ‘defeat devices’ to hide pollutants. Credit: AAP.
The Federal Court, for instance, imposed the second-highest penalty for a violation of the Australian Consumer Law in December 2019 when it ordered Volkswagen to pay $125 million for disguising emissions from its diesel vehicles.
In a case brought forward by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Volkswagen admitted that between 2011 and 2015, defeat devices were used to cause cars to operate in one mode during emissions tests and another on the road.
The investigation covered 43 different models from the VW Group companies Audi AG, Skoda Auto AS, SEAT SA, Porsche AG, Bentley Motors Limited, and Lamborghini SpA.
In the end, the company's High Court appeal against this record fine last year was unsuccessful.
This isn't an isolated incident either; class action lawsuits against Volkswagen Group entities were also filed in 2015 by the legal firm Maurice Blackburn – with settlements approved last year – which saw payments of approximately $2800 made directly to their owners (i.e. people who had purchased/ leased any one of these 43 vehicle models at any time between 2011- 2015).
While it's not yet clear what compensation Toyota car owners can potentially receive if the case is successful, this latest lawsuit against Toyota could see even bigger payouts for eligible claimants.
So, if you own or lease a Toyota vehicle, be sure to collate all necessary documents that serve as proof of ownership.
Are you aware that car companies can be sued for using engines that can disrupt the environment? If not, are you surprised by this news? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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