Volkswagen Hires High-profile Disaster Lawyer Feinberg To Handle Claims
Kenneth Feinberg, the lawyer who handled claims against General Motors for its faulty ignition switches that killed 124 people, will handle claims against Volkswagen stemming from its cheating diesel engines, the automaker announced Thursday.
“His extensive experience in handling such complex matters will help to guide us as we move forward to make things right with our customers,” Michael Horn, president of Volkswagen Group of America, said in a statement.
In addition to Feinberg’s experience with GM, his office also handled claims against BP for its Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
According to Automotive News, Feinberg had been nominated by plaintiffs’ lawyers to manage claims against the automaker. Those claims may be managed out-of-court, with a settlement that would preclude any further claims against the automaker, according to the report
In the announcement, Feinberg said, “we hope to have a claims program designed as expeditiously as possible,” which I’ve learned is lawyer-speak for “How much will it cost to get you out of my office as soon as possible?” — Aaron.
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I want to be a brilliant Jewish lawyer in my next life but I'll probably come back as a Steelers fan.
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Kenneth Feinberg managed the 911 compensation fund and wrote an absolutely fascinating book about it, titled What is Life Worth? This is perhaps the most compassionate/pragmatic person you could imagine, and a perfect mediator. He also managed the BP Gulf Oil spill fund. Immensely smart man. ...and I don't think he "built" the BP settlement plan, but he did agree to implement it as fairly as humanly possible.
....and when his work is done perhaps he can also help VW with legal issues surrounding their bankruptcy as they leave the U.S. Market.....