Habush, Quindel file class-action suit against Volkswagen

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Two law firms have filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin against Volkswagen over the recent discovery that the company had tampered with emissions testing equipment on its diesel vehicles.

Habush Habush & Rottier SC and Hawks Quindel SC jointly filed the lawsuit Friday in Wisconsin’s Western District Court, according to a news release. The lawsuit seeks class-action status for residents who bought or leased a Volkswagen vehicle with a diesel engine between 2009 and 2015.

The lawsuit seeks damages for the loss of value of Wisconsin residents’ vehicles as well as other damages that arise from the company’s recent admission that it used software to alter emissions testing equipment so that its vehicles switched to a clean mode during testing but reverted to higher emissions during regular use.

According to the EPA, the vehicles emitted more than 40 times the allowed amount of nitrogen oxide in their exhaust.

Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states, according to the news release. Follow @erikastrebel