Mercedes Emissions

Joeysmall

There are are least two UK Law firms trying to recruit diesel Merc. owners, cars 2009 to 2019, to join a collective case against MB re emissions fraud...( same scenario as per VW).  My car is eligible and it’s a No Win - No fee deal, 31% fee, inclusive of vat if they win. Question is: 
If I don’t sign up and join their crusade and they win, will every qualifying Merc owner get a pay out, or only those classed as clients of the Law firm that brings / wins the case. 

As VW and MB are both German companies and VW were found guilty, it’s not looking good for MB and I’m aware of aUSA car company that has recently paid out a $1.5bn compen. for the same issue. 

Don’t like the idea of missing out,...or paying 31% unnecessarily. 

AdrianC

Joeysmall said:

If I don’t sign up and join their crusade and they win, will every qualifying Merc owner get a pay out, or only those classed as clients of the Law firm that brings / wins the case. 

Only those clients.

Don’t like the idea of missing out,...or paying 31% unnecessarily.

...or paying your share of the legal costs when they lose?

Clue: Both VW and Merc (who paid the $1.5bn out of court settlement, because it was cheaper than the risk of a court case - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54153126) were found guilty of cheating the US emissions tests, which are very different - and far stricter - than the European ones. They were the only companies even attempting to sell diesels into the US market, because the US test didn't differentiate between diesels and petrols, making the tests effectively impossible to pass for diesels.

facade

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/05/mercedes-owners-launch-group-action-legal-claim/

You haven't lost anything, there is nothing to claim for. If they win a "substantial payout" of "upto £10,000", it will be a miracle- or a travesty of justice depending on whether you are getting the £10,000 or not.

Sandtree

Wait to see the outcome then sue yourself using a lawyer with a lower fee and use the preceding case as precedence  

Scrapit

I see a load of ads for this on Facebook. People keep commenting along the lines of "what about my range rover/nissan/ Ford etc etc." Just money grabbing with no actual loss. Cant see anything coming of it here regardless of what happens overseas.

ontheroad1970

Sandtree said:

Wait to see the outcome then sue yourself using a lawyer with a lower fee and use the preceding case as precedence  

Only certain courts create a precedent.  A county court is not one of them.

facade

Even if they get fined, that doesn't mean they owe compensation.

The bank I use has been fined $1,900,000,000 for using my money to money launder for terrorists and drug cartels

I'm extremely distressed by this, and definitely need compo, but no-one seems to be organising anything.

Sandtree

ontheroad1970 said:

Sandtree said:

Wait to see the outcome then sue yourself using a lawyer with a lower fee and use the preceding case as precedence  

Only certain courts create a precedent.  A county court is not one of them.

I’ll stand to be corrected but my memory of law 101 was all civil courts create precedence however it’s only binding on lower courts therefore a county court ruling (being the lowest court) should be considered by another county court however it’s much easier for it to come to a different conclusion 

Flight3287462

If this ever got to court it would not be settled until it reached the highest court in the land.

Flight3287462

Who ever bought a Mercedes diesel and ever thought about emissions!  Nobody and if they are that desperate for money they shouldn't have bought a Mercedes in the first place.

neilmcl

Sandtree said:

ontheroad1970 said:

Sandtree said:

Wait to see the outcome then sue yourself using a lawyer with a lower fee and use the preceding case as precedence  

Only certain courts create a precedent.  A county court is not one of them.

I’ll stand to be corrected but my memory of law 101 was all civil courts create precedence however it’s only binding on lower courts therefore a county court ruling (being the lowest court) should be considered by another county court however it’s much easier for it to come to a different conclusion 

Your memory is incorrect. The lower courts - County courts, Magistrates and Tribunals have no power to set binding precedent at their level.