US District Judge Charles Breyer has named former FBI director Robert Mueller the settlement master in the Volkswagen lawsuits. Now a partner in WilmerHale's DC office, Mueller will help mediate the more than 500 consumer lawsuits filed against VW for its diesel emissions, reports Reuters. Judge Breyer is giving until Friday for any side to object to Mueller's appointment. (We snapped this photo of the ex-FBI chief at the Georgetown Cybersecurity Law Insitute not long after he joined WilmerHale.)
VW has admitted to rigging diesel engines in 11 million cars globally, writes Bloomberg. That includes nearly 600,000 cars in the United States, according to Reuters, for which the automaker faces investigations from AGs in 47 states and a $46B lawsuit from DOJ under the Clean Air Act. VW vehicles emitted up to 40 times the legal pollution limit.
In December, VW hired famed compensation and mediation master Ken Feinberg to handle its claims resolution program for diesel owners. Feinberg's handled claims in the wake of the weightiest of events, such as acting as special master for the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. Recently, he oversaw claims for families impacted by General Motors' faulty ignition switches, which USA Today says are acknowledged to have resulted in 124 deaths. He has been recognized by the ABA's Dispute Resolution Section for his work. [Reuters]
