The German automaker said the court recognised that “Wyoming and the other states should not be allowed to hold Volkswagen responsible for the same conduct” for which it had already faced federal sanctions. German car manufacturer Volkswagen ( VW ) has won a legal victory after US District Judge Charles Breyer dismissed a lawsuit brought by the state of Wyoming , seeking $ 1bn in penalties for environmental damages related to the VW vehicle emissions scandal . A spokesperson for the carmaker said the company was pleased by the decision and would be filing motions for dismissal in similar cases brought by other states , including Illinois , Minnesota and Ohio . Judge Miller ruled states could not hold corporations accountable for conduct that had already been prosecuted at a federal level .
German car manufacturer Volkswagen ( VW ) has won a legal victory after US District Judge Charles Breyer dismissed a lawsuit brought by the state of Wyoming , seeking $ 1bn in penalties for environmental damages related to the VW vehicle emissions scandal . A spokesperson for the carmaker said the company was pleased by the decision and would be filing motions for dismissal in similar cases brought by other states , including Illinois , Minnesota and Ohio . Judge Miller ruled states could not hold corporations accountable for conduct that had already been prosecuted at a federal level .