As the days grow longer and summer approaches, so too does a major milestone in the fight for justice for diesel vehicle owners across the UK. The Johnson Law Group team has been working at full speed to prepare for a landmark High Court trial scheduled for October 2025 – and there’s been some significant progress.
What’s Happening in the Courts?
In early May, our legal team returned to the High Court in London for an important three-day hearing called a Case Management Conference(CMC). These hearings are all about making sure everything stays on track – from expert reports to key documents being disclosed by the vehicle manufacturers involved in the case.
We’re pleased to report that the judge overseeing the proceedings, Mr Justice Constable, is keeping all parties to a strict timetable. That means everything is moving forward, ensuring claimants like you can get the answers and outcomes you deserve as soon as possible.
Key developments from the hearing included:
- Updates on how expert engineers are inspecting sample vehicles and preparing reports to identify if defeat devices were used to cheat emissions tests
- A strong message from the Court to the Defendants, holding them to account for delays in providing key documents
- Agreement on the timetable leading up to the trial, including a final pre-trial review to ensure everything is ready
Looking Ahead to 2026: Proving the Impact
While the 2025 trial will focus on whether manufacturers used unlawful defeat devices, a second trial in 2026 will look at what impact that had – both on the environment and on the value of your vehicle.
The Court has already begun planning for this next stage, which will examine:
- What documents the Defendants must disclose – including any that may damage their defence.
- What financial and expert evidence is needed to assess the losses suffered by claimants.
- How the public perception of Dieselgate may have affected the prices people paid for their vehicles, using what’s known as “Comparator Data.”
Notably, the Defendants wanted to delay disclosure of documents that could reveal the financial impact of their actions — but the Court ruled in favour of an earlier timeline, helping to keep the case moving in the right direction.
Claimant Committees: Giving You a Voice
Behind the scenes, we’ve also been working on a vital part of how we represent our clients as the litigation progresses: the creation of Claimant Committees.
Each committee is made up of a small group of claimants who represent the wider group in decisions about the case. They help us act quickly and efficiently when important decisions arise, including whether to accept any future settlement offers.
We’ve already started approaching suitable candidates who reflect the wider group of claimants, and over the coming weeks, clients will receive an update confirming that a committee has been set up for each manufacturer.