Last week the High Court handed down a significant judgment in the ongoing Diesel Emissions Litigation, rejecting repeated attempts by vehicle manufacturers to keep key documents out of the public domain.
Throughout proceedings, the manufacturers sought to restrict access to technical data, pricing information, and engine design materials under claims of “commercial sensitivity.” However, the Court ruled that many of these materials - central to the trial beginning in October - should be made available in open court and accessible to the public.
In his judgment, Mr Justice Constable stated: “As a result of these determinations, very few (if any) parts of documents which are to be the subject of exploration at trial will not be designated Green or Amber. They will therefore be considered in open court, and their contents are subject to no reporting restrictions.”
Crucially, this means previously redacted parts of pleadings and witness statements must now be disclosed.
Matthew Raines, Senior Associate Solicitor at Johnson Law Group, who represent a large proportion of the claimants, said: “This is a major victory for transparency and access to justice. For too long, major car manufacturers have attempted to hide vital information behind closed doors. Today’s ruling sends a clear message: corporate accountability cannot be shielded from public scrutiny.”
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