Volkswagen Wants Class-Action Suit in Virginia

Volkswagen is hoping a federal court in Virginia will hear the hundreds of class-action lawsuits in response to its emissions cheating scandal.

The U.S. headquarters for the embattled car company is located in Herndon. Volkswagen is hoping that’s a good enough reason to get the case heard here, rather than California, according to Bloomberg Business.

According to the EPA, Volkswagen could face fines up to $18 billion and criminal prosecution for installing so-called “defeat device” software that allowed vehicles to emit up to 40 times more diesel pollution than is legally allowed.

The company’s CEO, Martin Winterkorn, resigned last month following the news of the cheating scandal.

Angry car owners want VW to refund premiums paid for vehicles with “clean diesel” engines, according to Bloomberg, plus compensation for the lost value those cars now hold.

Volkswagen notes the federal court in Alexandria is also near the EPA. A hearing on where the case will land is expected Dec. 3 in New Orleans.