California Honda Civic Hybrid owner Heather Peters chose to opt-out of a class action lawsuit and now she’s $9,867 dollars richer.
The original class-action lawsuit was filed when Honda Civic Hybrid owners realized that their vehicles were not receiving the 50 miles per gallon promised to them by Honda.
Peters was informed by the judged decision by the Associated Press for which she responded:
“I am absolutely thrilled. Sometimes big justice comes in small packages,” she said. “This is a victory for Honda Civic owners everywhere.”
Peters won nearly $10,000 by taking the company to small claims court after she decided not to be included in a class action lawsuit that would have paid her just $100 to $200.
According to estimates if Honda was forced to pay out $9,867 to every single customer involved in the class action lawsuit they would lose nearly $2 billion.
In the meantime Peters has launched DontSettleWithHonda.org which helps other Honda Civic Hybrid owners understand the steps needed to sue the company outside of the class action lawsuit.
While small claims court means more time spent battling against the company there are no court fees and cases are quickly decided.
Honda for its part stands behind the 50 miles per gallon sticker found on new cars, according to the company they are required by federal guidelines to post the highest possible mileage possible with the vehicle. The company notes that certain driving conditions can change that MPG value.
Peters and others however claim they never saw better then 30 miles per gallon with their vehicles, 40% lower then Honda’s “maximum” mileage.
Would you rather take a few hundred dollars or spend some time in court for the chance at nearly $10,000?