Less than two weeks ago, a federal judge in New Jersey denied appointment of interim co-lead class counsel status to lawyers representing several Subaru owners in a lawsuit alleging excess oil consumption. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit reside in several states, including California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
In its order, the Court noted that the Plaintiffs generally allege that Defendants’ vehicles have allegedly defective engines “that burn a substantial portion of their engine oil, leading to increased emissions, decreased fuel efficiency, and potentially significant damage to the engine, catalytic converter, and other components . . .”
According to the order, Defendant Subaru did not oppose the motion on substantive grounds, but instead asserted that “the motion appears to be premature.” In a six page decision and order, the Court agreed with Subaru’s argument and denied appointment of interim class counsel, finding it to be unnecessary at the time.