Source: https://mlgaplc.com/class-action-center/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 12:49:19+00:00

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MLG’s team of experienced auto lawyers and business litigation attorneys are responsible for filing some of the most significant automotive class action cases in our nation’s history.
According to the National Safety Council, cell phone usage was responsible for 26% of all car accidents in the United States in 2014, making it the single most dangerous thing one can do while operating an automobile. Apple has long known of the dangers associated with the use of their phones, going to far as to file a patent in 2008 for a “lock-out mechanism” to disable texting while driving. But to date they have done nothing to deploy the “lock-out” technology. It is time for Apple to step up and use its technology to protect consumers from an epidemic its technology and innovation created.
The Volkswagen emission scandal surfaced in September 2015, when Volkswagen admitted that it had been falsifying emissions data for nearly 500,000 diesel cars sold in the U.S., and that it had instructed its software engineers to develop a sophisticated “defeat device” that would conceal the vehicles’ true emissions levels from regulators.
Days after the emission scandal broke, on September 25, 2015, MLG filed a class action lawsuit against Volkswagen for the diesel emissions cover-up. The case, entitled Gregg Klein v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Case No. 2:15-cv-07570), was filed in Federal Court in Los Angeles and sought to hold Volkswagen responsible for its admitted fraud.
In early 2014, General Motors recalled approximately 800,000 vehicles due to faulty ignition switches, which posed the risk of spontaneously shutting off the vehicle’s engine during normal operation. On March 21, 2014, MLG’s auto lawyers filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors relating to this massive recall. The lawsuit, entitled Martin Ponce v. General Motors (Case No. CV14-2161), was filed in Federal Court in Los Angeles.
In February 2014, GM issued a recall of 1.4 million U.S. vehicles that used the faulty part. The ignition switch is prone to shutting off unexpectedly, leaving the driver without power to the car, and cutting off power steering, power brakes and airbags. GM has admitted that the faulty ignition switch has killed numerous consumers.
Under National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations, a manufacturer has five days to report a known safety defect. GM has admitted that it waited nearly a decade to recall their defective ignition switches. In September 2015, federal prosecutors imposed a $900 million fine against GM for concealing the deadly defect.
BMW’s new all electric vehicle, the i3 REx, is alleged to contain a faulty and dangerous “range extender” feature. On May 17, 2016, MLG filed a class action lawsuit against BMW for these defects in the 2014 to 2016 models. The case was filed in Federal Court in Los Angeles, and is entitled Edo Tsoar v. BMW of North America, LLC (Case No. 2:16-cv-03386).
The BMW i3 is BMW’s first zero emissions mass-produced vehicle. The BMW i3 REx model includes an optional “fuel extender” – a two-cylinder gasoline combustion engine with a small fuel tank that engages when the battery level drops to five percent. BMW advertises that the fuel extender acts as a generator to produce electricity, doubling the mileage range of the vehicle.
BMW failed to advise consumers, however, that when the fuel extender is activated, the vehicle is unable to maintain the power, speed and performance of normal operation. Such a decrease in power is dangerous, not only to drivers and passengers of the vehicle, but to all vehicles in surrounding traffic. The potentially life-threatening defect affects all 2014 to 2016 BMW i3 REx model vehicles.
As the company was beginning to build momentum, ride-share sensation Uber was alleged to have made numerous misrepresentations to the public about the safety of its driver background checks. On January 26, 2015, MLG filed a class action lawsuit against Uber for fraudulent business practices. The lawsuit, entitled Jacob Sabatino v. Uber Technologies, Inc. (Case No. 3:15-cv-00363), was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
The lawsuit alleges that Uber made numerous misrepresentations about the safety of its ride-share services, including falsely claiming that it conducts “industry-leading” background checks on its drivers. The lawsuit also claimed that Uber provides no training for its drivers, other than a 13-minute instructional video on how to use the Uber app, and that Uber failed to ensure that vehicle safety inspections were actually conducted by a service facility.
In the mid-2000s, Toyota began replacing its plastic wire coverings with a soy-based product. The move was intended to be more environmentally friendly, but it had a very disastrous side effect: the soy materials invited rodents to chew through the insulation, causing severe damage to vehicles’ electrical system. Despite the fact that Toyota is aware of the defect, Toyota routinely refuses to repair the vehicles under warranty, instead passing the cost of the repair onto vehicle owners.
On September 9, 2016, MLG’s team of auto lawyers filed a class action lawsuit against Toyota for the damage that has been caused to millions of Toyota cars, trucks and SUVs that contain this soy-based wiring. The case was filed in federal court in Los Angeles, and is entitled Leslie Cochrane v. Toyota Motor Corporation (Case No. 8:16-cv-01679).
Kia Motors engaged in an extensive advertising campaign throughout the United States capitalizing on the trend toward more eco-friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles by telling consumers their cars achieved gas mileage in the range of 40 miles per gallon. Kia later acknowledged it had been lying to regulators and the public and that none of the relevant vehicles actually reached the 40 MPG threshold.
MLG filed a class action alleging Unfair Competition and False Advertising, as well as violations of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, seeking compensation for consumers damaged by Kia’s false claims, and to ensure the automotive giant does not deceive consumers in the future.
Maserati North America, Inc. was faced with a class action filed by MLG for its 2014 to 2016 model year Ghibli vehicles equipped with a defect that allows the key fob to be locked inside the vehicle without a way to unlock it, creating a dangerous situation if a pet or child is locked inside the car. The case was filed on May 19, 2016, in Federal Court in the Central District of California, and is entitled Elsayed v. Maserati North America, Inc. (Case No. 8:16-cv-00918).
Maserati Ghibli’s Passive Entry System allows drivers to lock and unlock the vehicle’s doors without having to press a button on a key fob. The Passive Entry System, however, contains a serious defect: despite assurances that precautions exist to prevent the inadvertent locking of the keys in the vehicle, instances have occurred where the vehicles’ key fob is located inside the vehicle, and a rear passenger (such as a small child) is able to lock the driver outside of the vehicle, trapping the child inside. Maserati’s production of the Ghibli, a vehicle that will allow a child to lock himself in the vehicle, with no means of extracting him, is a serious threat to the child’s life.
If I Have Been Injured in a Defective Vehicle that Has Not Been Recalled, Do I Still Have a Claim?
Quite possibly, yes. The test is whether you were injured because of a defect in the vehicle, not whether the vehicle was recalled. The injury needs to be the result of the defect in the vehicle, as opposed to other outside factors, such as actions of other drivers or your mistake. If the defect caused a fatality, there may be a wrongful death claim or wrongful death suit that can be filed. Ask our team of auto lawyers for advice.
If My Accident Occurred a Long Time Ago, Can I Still Bring a Claim?
Each state has a “statute of limitations” that indicates how long parties have to file a lawsuit. The time limitations vary from state to state based on your claim, and there may be factors that can extend the time to file. Even if your accident occurred a long time ago, you may still have the ability to file a lawsuit. Contact our team of auto lawyers, and we can review the motor vehicle law of your state to see if you can pursue a claim.
How Much Will It Cost Me to File a Wrongful Death Suit or a Wrongful Death Claim?
After you contact us, our team of auto lawyers will review the motor vehicle laws of your state, and determine the strength of your potential wrongful death suit or wrongful death claim. If we decide that it is in your best interest to pursue a wrongful death suit, we will offer to file a claim on your behalf on a contingency fee basis. A “contingency fee” is an amount that will be freely negotiated between us and you (it is not set by law) that will allow us to get paid at the end of the case out of the total recovery. If we decide you should move forward with your wrongful death suit, we would also pay for all the expenses on the case, and also recover these expenses out of the ultimate recovery. You will need a strong wrongful death attorney to evaluate the claim.
In the event our auto lawyers are unsuccessful in obtaining a recovery for you on your wrongful death suit, you will owe us nothing for our time, and you will not be required to reimburse us for any expenses incurred on the matter. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
A class action is a lawsuit brought against a company by someone who has a claim that is similar to others’ claims. The person who brings the lawsuit is called the “class representative,” and that person is responsible for continuing the case on behalf of all others similarly situated. You will need a strong consumer protection attorney or automotive defects attorney to advise you on the nature of the claim.
If a recovery is received, either by settlement or through trial, the net funds are distributed to all class members. You may have experienced this over the years, where you receive a class action check in the mail that you were not expecting. That would have been your share of the recovery for that case.
Only one person is needed to start a class action. Once our auto attorneys identify a person who has been impacted by the event (for example, identifying a person who owns one of the recalled cars), we have the ability to file the class action. The person who brings the lawsuit is the “class representative,” and the case is brought on behalf of all others similarly situated. If the defect is serious enough, there may also be potential wrongful death suit or wrongful death claims separately filed.
If multiple class action lawsuits are brought at the same time by different law firms, the court may consolidate them into one case.
If Someone Else Files a Class Action, am I Automatically Included?
Generally speaking, when someone else files a class action, and you are similarly situated (that is, you have the same type of claim), you will automatically become part of the class unless you “opt out” of the case. You may have received notices like this from time to time, asking if you would like to opt out of a class action. If you elect to opt out, you will not be part of the class, and you would be able to file your claim by yourself. A knowledgeable consumer protection attorney can advise you on the manner in which the case will proceed.
Can a Class Action Compensate Me for My Specific Injuries?
No. Class action cases are to recover economic damages that are similar to the class as a whole. If you have been injured by a defective vehicle, or if you have a wrongful death claim for a family member who was killed by a defective vehicle, you would need to file an individual lawsuit. This case would be specific to you, and would compensate you for your direct injuries. These types of claims can be valuable, and can include past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium and punitive damages. A knowledgeable wrongful death attorney can help you evaluate the claim.
How Much Will It Cost Me to File a Class Action?
MLG does not charge the class representative a fee for filing the case, and we advance the expenses involved in the case. We get paid by asking the court to allow us to collect our fees and expenses from the recovery in the case. In the event we are unsuccessful in obtaining a recovery, you will owe us nothing for our time, and you will not be required to reimburse us for any expenses incurred on the matter.
What Are Some Examples of Class Actions that I May Recognize?
These results are based on the unique facts and circumstances of these particular cases, and are not in any way indicative of future results. No representation or guarantee of any kind – express or implied – is made as to the financial recovery that will be achieved in any future case. The recovery, if any, of any future matter will be based on the unique facts and circumstances of that particular case, and nothing else.
Our firm has a rich history of litigating complex cases throughout the United States. Collectively, our attorneys have litigated cases against GM Audi, Maserati, Mitsubishi, Kia, Nissan, Honda, AM General, Isuzu, Toyota, Hyundai, Harley-Davidson, Ford, Chrysler, Tesla, Volvo, Volkswagen, Aston Martin, Land Rover, Mercedes and Porsche.
We are responsible for filing what we believe to be some of the most significant cases in the automotive industry. This includes several national class action cases, as well as Spitzer Motor City v. U.S. – where we represented numerous terminated Chrysler dealers against the United States for the unlawful “taking” of their franchises in 2009, a violation of the 5th Amendment.
Our team of lawyers are admitted to practice in California, Colorado, Michigan, the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California, the U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. For those jurisdictions where our auto lawyers are not admitted, we seek admission on a pro hac vice basis.
No attorney-client relationship exists between MLG (or any of its attorneys) and you unless a written Retainer Agreement has been signed by both us and you.

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