VW Diesel Litigation’s Non-Class Counsel Won’t Get Fees

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.

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.

That means numerous attorneys who worked on suits before the appointment of class counsel won’t get paid. That includes for work they did filing complaints, attempting to negotiate early settlements, and ...