UK law firm seeks compensation for Volkswagen drivers over diesel scandal

By Costas Pitas

LONDON (Reuters) - British law firm Harcus Sinclair UK said on Monday it had launched legal action in Britain against Volkswagen, seeking thousands of pounds of compensation each for British drivers affected by the carmaker's diesel emissions scandal.

The German company is involved in lawsuits in several countries and is racing to resolve criminal and civil allegations with the United States' Department of Justice after admitting it cheated diesel emissions tests.

In Britain, Europe's second-biggest autos market, 1.2 million cars are affected and the law firm, which is being supported by Slater and Gordon, said around 10,000 drivers had already signed up to the legal action before Monday's launch.

The firm will pursue a group action, the nearest British equivalent of a U.S. class action, at the High Court and is asking other drivers affected to come forward and join the case.

"We will argue that you received a vehicle that should never have been licensed for sale because it did not meet the required emissions standards," the firm said on its website.

"We believe that the Court will assess the difference between what you paid for your vehicle and the inherent value of what you actually received."

A spokesman for Volkswagen in Britain did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Last year, a Spanish court ruled in favour of a buyer of a Volkswagen car with altered emissions software, ordering two of the German firm's local units to pay a 5,000 euro (4,330 pound) fine to the car's owner.

But the British authorities have been accused by some consumers and lawmakers of being too slow to act for not pursuing compensation or criminal proceedings.

In December, the European Union began legal action against Britain, Germany and five other member states for failing to police emissions test cheating by carmakers.

Volkswagen has been hit hard in Britain since the scandal erupted in 2015, with sales of its VW brand cars down 7.5 percent in 2016 despite the overall market rising by over 2 percent to hit a record high.

The first hearing in the group action case is due to take place on Jan. 30, a spokeswoman for Harcus Sinclair UK said.

(1 British pound = 1.1543 euros)

(Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Estelle Shirbon and Mark Potter)