Former Volkswagen Employee Claims Unlawful Firing Over Data Deletions

Mark Stevenson
by Mark Stevenson

A former employee, who was fired after news of Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal broke, is claiming in a lawsuit that he was let go from the automaker after noticing data related to the scandal was being deleted, several German language outlets are reporting (via Automotive News).

The lawsuit, filed by a former employee of Volkswagen Group of America, is the first possible evidence made public so far of a good, old fashioned cover up on this side of the Atlantic.

The employee, who worked at VWGoA’s data center in Michigan, began flagging data deletions made by a co-worker that started on September 18, 2015, the same day the scandal broke, the suit claims. According to reports, the deletions happened after a U.S. Department of Justice order to stop all “routine” data deletions at VWGoA.

The plaintiff is seeking damages in the suit. He’s protected from retaliation under Michigan’s whistleblower laws.

[Image: r2hox/Flickr ( CC BY-SA 2.0)]

Mark Stevenson
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  • Voyager Voyager on Mar 14, 2016

    The U.S. Justice Dept. better start sending invitations to key VW officials in Germany, and organize followup hearings. Remember that it took German prosecutors 3 weeks before they decided to raid VW offices to look for evidence. Since Dieselgate constitutes no less than an attempt to mislead authorities and fraud to boost sales and shareholder value, the U.S. should be firm about this. Should go as far as ask for extradition of managers such as Winterkorn.

    • See 3 previous
    • NickS NickS on Mar 14, 2016

      @wmba for the link wmba -- Calpers is one of the "suitors" ... oh, how many ways can california have its way with VW ... Some more details on the suit: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-14/volkswagen-u-s-unit-destroyed-evidence-ex-worker-suit-says

  • Stumpaster Stumpaster on Mar 14, 2016

    CAN SOMEONE AT TTAC TURN OFF THE POP UP WINDOW REQUIRING, NO DEMANDING, THAT WE LIKE TTAC'S PAGE ON FACEBOOK? IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A MONTH NOW AND IT'S VERY ANNOYING. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT MY DESIRE TO "LIKE" TTAC FB IS DIRECTLY DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE TO CLICK THE UNTRUTHFUL "LIKED ALREADY" RESPONSE. IN SHORT, IT'S A REALLY STUPID MOVE, TTAC.

  • Its me Dave Its me Dave on Mar 14, 2016

    That's not the half of it. TTAC starts more scripts and trackers in your browser than a Russian pron site. This site's unreadable without an adblocker or notracker.

  • Voyager Voyager on Mar 15, 2016

    Interesting catch 22 situation. If the suitors have a chance of getting compensated, shares will go down even further, even more contributing to the company's long term losses.

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