EU to take action against 7 member states over VW emissions scandal News
EU to take action against 7 member states over VW emissions scandal

The European Commission [official website] on Thursday announced [press release] plans to take action against seven member states for failing to fulfill their obligations under EU law when they did not set up penalty systems to deter manufacturers from violating the legislation, particularly after Volkswagen (VW) [corporate website] was investigated for implementing software in its vehicles that could cheat emissions tests. The Commission will take action against Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and the UK because they issued approvals for VW vehicles and did not enforce the provisions on penalties against the manufacturer after it was discovered they cheated the emissions tests. Germany and the UK have further been accused of not disclosing to the Commission information it requested concerning nitrogen oxide emissions and Volkswagen irregularities. Notices were also sent to Czech Republic, Greece and Lithuania because they have not introduced penalty systems against car manufacturers in their national laws.

VW is facing legal difficulty around the world over the emissions scandal. South Korea announced Wednesday that it plans to fine [JURIST report] VW over false advertising. In October, A Spanish court ordered [JURIST report] Volkswagen to pay damages to a VW vehicle owner who purchased his car in 2011. A US judge approved [JURIST report] a $14.7 billion settlement in October between VW and the US Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the state of California and car owners who filed a class action lawsuit over the company’s emissions scandal. In September a German court said VW faces over USD $8.2 billion [JURIST report] in damage claims from investors. That same month, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sued [JURIST report] VW and its local subsidiary for misleading customers. In August a district court in Germany ruled [JURIST report] that a collective complaint against VW may move forward. Like US-style class-action lawsuits, the collective complaint was launched on behalf of multiple investors who lost money following the diesel emissions cheating scandal. Last March the US FTC filed suit [JURIST report] against VW for false advertising.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Justice Department brings anit-trust action against AT&T

On November 20, 1974, the Department of Justice filed its final anti-trust suit against AT&T. United States v. AT&T was ultimately settled out of court with an agreement that the corporation would break up its monopoly on phone service throughout the country.

Nuremberg war crimes trials began

On November 20, 1945, the war crimes trials of Nazi World War II leaders began in the German city of Nuremberg. Review the Nuremberg Tribunal's Charter and the verdicts and sentences handed down on major war figures.

Winston Churchill born

On November 20, 1874, Sir Winston Churchill was born in Woodstock, England. He would go on to lead the United Kingdom as Prime Minister through World War II. Toward the end of the war, Churchill worked with US President Franklin D. Roosevelt to craft the treaties and accords that have defined the world since WWII. A 2002 poll by the BBC declared Churchill the Greatest Briton of all time.

New Jersey ratifies Bill of Rights

New Jersey ratified the Bill of Rights, a set of 10 fundamental amendments to the US Constitution, on November 20, 1789, becoming the first state to do so. The state also ratified an amendment on federal representation which ultimately failed. Additionally, New Jersey rejected an amendment on congressional salaries, which would eventually become the 27th Amendment more than 200 years later. Read the articles ratified by New Jersey.