A class action lawsuit has been certified against Mercedes-Benz, alleging that the luxury automaker knowingly sold vehicles equipped with a soon-to-be obsolete analog emergency response system. (ERS).
Specifically, the complaint alleges that Mercedes continued to promote vehicles equipped with the Tele Aid ERS system, which was provided by AT&T for a subscription fee. However, Tele Aid was an analog system and was scheduled to be replaced with digital technology in 2008, when a change in Federal Communications Commission regulations would allow AT&T to discontinue its analog cellular service.
Mercedes reportedly knew of this technology change as early as 2002, but continued to promote Tele Aid to consumers right up to 2007. The suit claims that Mercedes Benz knew the technology change would effectively render Tele Aid inoperative. Therefore, the plaintiffs allege that these actions were cause for unjust enrichment.
The class action, certified by a federal judge in New Jersey, consolidates 10 suits filed in 6 states with an estimated 100,000 possible plaintiffs.
