Lawyers in Volkswagen settlement seek $26 million in fees and costs

Lawyers in a Volkswagen case are reportedly asking a judge for $26 million in attorney’s fees and costs after the Environmental Protection Agency said the car manufacturer overestimated fuel economy and underreported greenhouse emissions. 

The EPA said Friday that Volkswagen used software in vehicles during tests that caused the transmission to shift gears and optimized fuel economy, but said the software did not work the same way under normal driving conditions. 

{mosads}The EPA said such software was used in models from 2013 to 2017 under the brand names Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Bentley, and impacted roughly 98,000 vehicles.

Lawyers representing 98,000 Volkswagen car owners asked for the $26 million in costs and fees based on court documents obtained by Reuters. The cost is separate from a $96.5 million court settlement Volkswagen agreed to Friday, Reuters reports citing court documents. 

The $96.5 million court settlement will reportedly reimburse consumers who still with payments ranging from $518 to $2,332.80. 

The EPA discovered the issue as part of an investigation with the California Air Resources Board.