Eric Gibbs & David Stein Appointed Interim Co-Lead Counsel in Honda CR-V
January 4, 2016
On December 18, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson appointed Eric Gibbs and David Stein to serve as Interim Co-Lead Counsel in consolidated litigation against Honda alleging that a redesign of the 2015 CR-V for fuel efficiency resulted in severe vehicle vibrations.
In the Order, Judge Watson states that Mr. Gibbs’ and Mr. Stein’s “extensive experience in handling class actions” contributed to their appointment, and that this experience is evidenced by the firm’s successful resolution of cases against Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, General Motors, Toyota, Chrysler, and Honda.
Mr. Gibbs has represented plaintiffs in over 75 class actions in his twenty years of practice, and Mr. Stein has represented plaintiffs in more than 10 automotive class actions, which Judge Watson also noted in the December 18 Order.
Additionally, Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Stein have “litigated class actions involving poorer than expected vehicle fuel economy,” an issue which both attorneys believe may arise in the CR-V litigation, as Honda has indicated that any fix to the vibration issue may negatively impact fuel efficiency.
Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Stein were one of two groups of plaintiffs’ attorneys seeking the Interim Co-Lead Counsel appointment.
Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Stein are currently also investigating a lawsuit against Honda for CR-V braking system problems.
Honda CR-V Fuel Economy, At a Price
The Order indicates that Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Stein “worked with an automotive expert and studied the industry before filing the complaint” in the Honda case.
According to the firm’s complaint, Honda made substantial changes to the design of the 2015 model year CR-V in an attempt to improve fuel economy. Because methods of improving fuel efficiency often increase noise, vibration, and harshness, the lawsuit alleges that idle vehicle vibrations – vibrations which drivers describe as “‘severe,’ ‘extremely distracting,’ and ‘nauseating’” – were the result of the redesign.
The lawsuit further alleges that Honda was aware of the vibration issues and failed to disclose them to its customers.
The Honda CR-V multi-district litigation is titled In re: American Honda Motor Co., Inc., CR-V Vibration Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, and is currently pending before Judge Watson in U.S.D.C, S.D. Ohio.
About Eric Gibbs
Eric Gibbs is a partner at Gibbs Law Group LLP with two decades of experience representing consumers in complex litigation concerning defective products, telecommunications, credit cards, unfair competition, false advertising, truth-in-lending, product liability, credit repair, employment misclassification, and employment law violations.
Mr. Gibbs has achieved some of the largest settlements of their kind in auto defect cases.
In addition to his leadership in the Honda CR-V litigation, Mr. Gibbs presently serves as court-appointed class counsel or liaison counsel in Velasco v. Chrysler Group LLC, No. 13-cv-08080-DDP-VBK concerning allegedly defective totally integrated power modules (TIPM); in Stedman v. Mazda Motor Corporation, No. 8:14-cv-01608-JVS-AN, concerning Mazda melting dashboards; In re Ford Fusion and C-MAX Fuel Economy Litigation, No. 13-MD-2450, concerning MPG ratings; and In re Hyundai Sonata Engine Litigation, Case No. 5:15-cv-1685 (N.D. Cal.), concerning premature engine failure in the Sonata.
About David Stein
David Stein is a partner with Gibbs Law Group LLP with a practice focused on consumer protection and financial fraud cases.
In February 2015, Mr. Stein won a Ninth Circuit appeal in the Ford Freestyle litigation, resulting in the reversal of a prior district court order to deny class certification to owners of 2005-2007 Freestyle vehicles with a defect in the electronic throttle control (ECT) that causes surging and unintended acceleration.
Mr. Stein’s notable automotive class action settlements include a $25 million settlement for Honda and Acura drivers with defective brake pads, and cash reimbursements for Toyota Prius drivers who paid to replace allegedly defective HID headlights.