Volkswagen Corp. Agrees To Pay $14.7 billion After False Computer Data Revealed; More Criminal And Civil Liability Pending

Daniel Carder (pictured) conducted a $50,000 study at West Virginia University that set off the scandal.

[From article]
Volkswagen has agreed to pay out $14.7 billion over its emissions-cheating diesel-powered cars in one of the largest consumer class-action settlements in US history.
The settlement filed in federal court calls for the German auto giant to pay each owner up to $10,000 in cash, and either buy back or fix the 'clean diesel' cars designed to trick air-quality tests.
The company has agreed to spend a maximum of $10.03billion compensating owners. Volkswagen will pay an environmental penalty of $2.7billion and spend another $2billion on promoting eco-friendly cars.
The payout will affect owners of 2009 to 2015 diesel models of Volkswagen Jettas, Passats, Golfs and Beetles. The TDI Audi A3 is also included.
The $2.0 billion will go towards 'creating infrastructure for and promoting public awareness of zero emission vehicles,' the court filing showed.
The huge settlement, which still needs to be approved by a federal judge in San Francisco, could affect some 480,000 owners of Volkswagens and Audis with 2.0-liter diesel engines.
Volkswagen agreed to buy back the emissions-cheating vehicles at their market prices before the scandal broke.
For qualifying Jetta Sedans, owners can receive $12,475, while some Audi models will fetch more than $44,000.
The owners also have the option of letting Volkswagen modify the cars to meet US pollution standards.
In either case, the owners would also get a cash settlement ranging from $5,100 to $10,000 depending on the vehicle.
While the deal only covers a small portion of the 11million cars around the world that have been fitted with the cheating software, law professor David Uhlmann told the NYTimes it was a 'remarkable deal' for VW owners in the US.
Daniel Carder conducted a $50,000 study at West Virginia University in 2012 to 2013 that produced early evidence that Volkswagen was cheating on US. vehicle emissions tests.
The study found one vehicle with 15 to 35 times the reported emissions levels, setting off a scandal that reverberated throughout the auto industry.
Volkswagen admitted in September that it had installed software in the vehicles that tricked US emissions tests into showing the cars met environmental standards.
The device switched off after testing, enabling the vehicles to spew up to 40 times the permitted amounts of nitrogen oxides.
At a press conference in December, company chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch said he would not name any individuals involved, but added: 'We are talking here not about a one-off mistake but a chain of errors.'
Volkswagen has set aside $17.9 billion to cover costs from the scandal including the legal risks.
Despite the settlement, however, Volkswagen faces more troubles in the United States.
The company faces fines from US regulators that may run to tens of billions of dollars while a criminal investigation over the scandal is also pending.
Volkswagen has yet to face similar charges over its 3.0 liter diesel cars with emissions-cheating devices, in addition to lawsuits and charges in other countries around the world.
Tuesday's settlement filed with Judge Charles Breyer would settle claims from the US government as well as a large number of plaintiffs including owners, lessees, and dealers.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3664121/VW-agrees-14-7-bn-payout-US-emissions-probe.html

Volkswagen agrees to $14.7 BILLION payout over emissions-cheating cars in the US in largest-ever settlement by an auto company
Company agreed to pay $10b to compensate owners, $2.7b in fines and $2b to promote zero-emission cars
VW agreed to either fix the cars installed with cheating software, or buy them back from owners at rates before the scandal
Qualifying owners can also receive cash compensation from $5.1k to $10k
Settlement still needs to be approved by a federal judge in San Francisco
Could affect 480k owners of Volkswagens, Audis with 2.0L diesel engines
VW faces a slew of other investigations, lawsuits both in US and worldwide
By AFP and JESSICA CHIA FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 08:47 EST, 28 June 2016 | UPDATED: 13:13 EST, 28 June 2016

New York City Inspectors Found Widespread Overcharging For Five Years at Whole Foods Stores

[From article]

The city has launched a probe of Whole Foods Markets after investigators nabbed the upscale food purveyor for routinely overcharging customers on groceries during dozens of inspections dating back to at least 2010, the Daily News has learned.
The most recent spate of violations came during a sting operation the Department of Consumer Affairs conducted in the fall that specifically checked the accuracy of the weight marked on pre-packaged products.
Inspectors weighed 80 different types of items at Whole Foods’ eight locations in the city that were open at the time. They found every label was inaccurate, with many overcharging consumers, agency spokeswoman Abby Lootens told The News.
Whole Foods spokesman Michael Sinatra said the Texas-based chain "never intentionally used deceptive practices to incorrectly charge customers."

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/exclusive-foods-faces-city-probe-overcharges-article-1.2268695

EXCLUSIVE: Whole Foods chain faces city probe after investigators found ‘worst case of overcharges’
BY SARAH RYLEY , REUVEN BLAU 

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 9:17 PM

New York Attorney General Charges TV Comsumer Fraud

[From article]
But wait, there’s more — hidden charges!
A company that hawks “As Seen on TV” wares like the Snuggie and Perfect Bacon Bowl will fork over $8 million to settle charges that it duped customers, sources said Thursday.
Allstar Marketing Group promised “buy one, get one free” deals, but charged customers nearly twice what they expected with “deceptive” processing and handling fees, the Federal Trade Commission says.
“This agreement returns money to thousands of consumers in New York and across the nation who believed they were buying items at the price advertised on television but ended up with extra merchandise and hidden fees they didn’t bargain for,” said state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who worked with the FTC on the settlement.

http://nypost.com/2015/03/06/as-seen-on-tv-vendor-pays-8-million-for-duping-customers/

‘As Seen on TV’ vendor pays $8 million for duping customers
By Natalie O'Neill
New York Post
March 6, 2015 | 1:00am

Extremist Liberals, Domestic Democratic Party Terrorists Condemn Whole Foods For Feeding National Guard Troops Protecting Baltimore

See misguided comments by Democratic Party extremist liberal domestic terrorists at this link

https://twitter.com/ztsamudzi/status/593087447199653890/photo/1

Updated: US Government, CDC, Warns to Prepare for Ebola

Posted September 15, 2014, 9:28 PM ET; Last updated September 17, 2014 8:48 PM ET


Urgent: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an Ebola checklist to all American hospitals as it warns the disease, which is 'out of control' in a number of African countries could soon reach the US

[From article]
The checklist, released today, orders doctors and nurses to constantly review their approach to the disease and to place heavy emphasis on training staff.
Every member of staff should be given a 'buddy' to help keep each others' hygiene in check.
And all clinics need to train an employee in media relations in case they have to make a public statement or deal with intense attention.
It then goes through each way staff can 'detect', 'protect' and 'respond' appropriately to a case of Ebola, also known as EVD.
There is also a detailed document with diagrams showing staff how to put on and remove their scrubs - that they must study' frequently' to ensure they keep up standards.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2756964/Now-time-prepare-CDC-issues-Ebola-action-plan-US-hospitals-experts-fear-matter-time-disease-arrives-home-soil.html

'Now is the time to prepare': CDC issues Ebola action plan to US hospitals as experts fear it is 'only a matter of time' before the disease arrives on home soil
Center for Disease Control and Prevention warns disease is coming to US
Issued six-page report to hospitals across nation with detailed action plan
All staff members should have 'buddies' to monitor and help train each other
Hospitals of all sizes 'should place greater emphasis on training'
Even small clinics 'must train an employee to deal with media attention'
By MIA DE GRAAF FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:44 EST, 15 September 2014 | UPDATED: 15:40 EST, 16 September 2014



* * *

[list of actions to take]

http://www.strac.org/index.php/ebola

[From article]
The checklist has been distributed to major hospitals and even little ones, including an urgent center in Leesburg, Va.
“Every hospital should ensure that it can detect a patient with Ebola, protect healthcare workers so they can safely care for the patient, and respond in a coordinated fashion,” warns the CDC.
“While we are not aware of any domestic Ebola Virus Disease cases (other than two American citizens who were medically evacuated to the United States), now is the time to prepare, as it is possible that individuals with EVD in West Africa may travel to the United States, exhibit signs and symptoms of EVD, and present to facilities,” it adds.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/cdc-issues-ebola-checklist-now-is-the-time-to-prepare/article/2553396

CDC issues Ebola checklist: 'Now is the time to prepare'
BY PAUL BEDARD

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | 11:34 AM

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Collecting Ten Years Of Personal Data

[From article]
Serious allegations are being raised in the legal community that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recruited the U.S. Trustee Program to collect bankruptcy data on its behalf to aid a controversial data-mining program.
Documents obtained by the Washington Examiner describe efforts by the CFPB to collect a decade's worth of private financial data on the consumer behavior of five million American citizens without their knowledge or consent. The CFPB data-mining campaign has alarmed privacy watchdogs.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2535482

Consumer agency threatens independence of bankruptcy office
BY RICHARD POLLOCK
SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 AT 10:54 AM