Date:         Mon, 18 Jun 2001 12:20:55 -0700
Reply-To:     Steve Schwenk <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Schwenk <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Lawsuits and Seatbelts
Comments: To: Donna Stewart <DStewart@CHRM.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

The judgment in the products defect case would not
require VW to do anything as far as fixing other vans.
Only a federally or state mandated recall would require
such action.  Whether or not the verdict in that case
would cause VW to take action on its own would depend
in part on how strong the evidence of the "defect" was
(which is a balancing test under many states' laws).
As is evidenced by the firestone and ford fiasco, most
manufacturers will deny all responsibility until all
options have run out, there is no where left to hide
and they will suffer greater harm if they continue to
deny responsibility.  Not knowing the facts, my guess
is that there is not and will not be any recall for
retrofitting shoulder belts in vanagons.

Donna Stewart wrote:
>
> Lawyers on the list can chime in here but please remember that just because VW got hit with a large jury verdict doesn't mean they're required to suddenly start retrofitting vans with anything.  As far as I'm aware any such verdict is probably on appeal, and the jury's verdict does not necessarily require VW to do anything other than pay the settlement to the plaintiff.  It is possible VW on its own decided to retrofit older vans.  However, I've made two phone calls this morning, wasted 30 minutes and struck out on both calls - neither VW nor my local dealer knows anything about this.  BTW, the woman I spoke to at VW's customer service number listed on their website did not know the difference between a Eurovan and a Vanagon.