Volkswagen AG is paying out $175 million to plaintiffs’ attorneys in the $10 billion settlement over the “clean diesel” litigation. But many who say they worked on those cases won’t be getting any money, according to Bloomberg Law.

“Only attorneys chosen as class counsel in the consolidated litigation, and attorneys working on assignments from class counsel, are entitled to attorneys’ fees, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said Jan. 22,” reports Bloomberg’s Martina Barash.

“That means numerous attorneys who worked on suits before the appointment of class counsel won’t get paid,” she adds. “That includes for work they did filing complaints, attempting to negotiate early settlements, and fielding calls with clients and other attorneys.”

Read the Bloomberg Law article.

USA Today is reporting that German automaker Volkswagen Group is expected to deliver a $10 billion settlement to cover government fines and compensate owners of vehicles fitted with software that cheated emissions standards.

The newspaper cited reports by Bloomberg and the Associated Press saying Volkswagen’s deal, which is due to be filed in a federal court by Tuesday, includes payments of up to $7,000 to owners of vehicles affected by the scandal.

“The settlement has a provision to remove any VW diesel vehicle with a 2-liter engine that hasn’t been brought into compliance, said Elizabeth Cabraser, the court-appointed lead counsel for the plaintiff’s steering committee. Either they will have to be modified or VW will buy them back.” USA Today reports.

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Soft-spoken and bookish litigator Elizabeth Cabraser stood out from the cloud of alpha lawyers when made her low-key pitch to a federal judge as to why she should be selected to lead a massive consumer-fraud case against Volkswagen AG, reports The Wall Street Journal, via NASDAQ.

Her eloquence and focus on the clients contrasted with dozens of others who pitched the judge that day, bragging about their most recent newspaper awards, school credentials and trial prowess, the report says.

“U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer hours later named Ms. Cabraser to lead a team of 21 lawyers handling the plaintiffs’ cases, which consolidate more than 500 lawsuits. Volkswagen has admitted its diesel cars were installed with software meant to trick emissions tests and is working with regulators on a fix,” according to the report.

“The San Francisco Bay Area native has built a reputation for her encyclopedic knowledge of class-action law, effectiveness in oral arguments, and ability to diplomatically manage large cases, lawyers say.”

Read the story.