REIMBURSEMENT
COVID-19

The Office for Personal Data Protection has finally imposed a fine of CZK 975,000 on the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic for the blanket processing of data on persons who were ordered to be isolated due to the proven disease COVID-19.

• A Slovak legal or natural person who has been fined for violation of anti-pandemic measures in connection with COVID-19, or has paid for a stay in quarantine facilities, may seek compensation. This follows from the draft law on compensation of natural persons in connection with anti-pandemic measures, which was approved by the Slovak Government on 6 December 2024.

TRUCK CARTEL

In two decisions in July 2016 and September 2017, the European Commission imposed record fines totalling around €3.8 billion on Europe's largest truck manufacturers Daimler, MAN, Volvo/Renault, DAF, Iveco and Scania. 

• Companies that purchased or leased heavy or medium trucks from Daimler, MAN, Volvo/Renault, DAF, Iveco or Scania between 1/1997 and 12/2014 have the chance to receive a substantial amount of compensation of several thousand euros per truck.

DIESELGATE

The Dieselgate scandal exposed the use of software to circumvent emissions tests. Vehicles appeared to pass the tests but in real-world conditions emitted harmful pollutants above legal limits. This deception has serious environmental, health and financial implications, including reduced resale value of vehicles and potential repair costs.

• If you own a vehicle with a diesel engine from Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Porsche or other manufacturers involved in the Dieselgate scandal, you may be entitled to compensation.

MB DIESEL CAUSE

In November 2024, the European Court of Justice will hear two landmark cases against Mercedes (C-251/23 and C-308/23) that could lead to an early EU-wide ban on the sale of older diesel cars. At issue is the technology that controls the processing of exhaust gases within a certain temperature range. This technology has previously been declared illegal by the EU.

• The upcoming decision could affect more than 8 million vehicles across Europe. If the Court rules that thermal windows were used illegally, these vehicles could fail to meet the required emission standards and be withdrawn from service.

HYUNDAI EMISE

In Germany, the Frankfurt prosecutor's office fined Hyundai Motor Group subsidiaries €58.5 million in April 2023 for using "defeat devices" in 90,000 diesel cars that allowed them to pass emissions tests by pretending to be cleaner than they actually were.

Legal uncertainties over willful misconduct leave the fate of the vehicles - with potentially high nitrogen oxide emissions - uncertain, and no official action has yet been taken by German or other EU authorities to take them off the road.

PHARMA CARTEL

In the last few years, the EC has issued a total of four decisions fining several pharmaceutical companies for anti-competitive behaviour in the markets for antidepressants, cardiovascular drugs, sleep disorder drugs and drugs for cancer or multiple sclerosis. In addition to these four cases, Teva Ltd. is currently also the subject of proceedings concerning Copaxone.

As a result of this behaviour, health insurers suffered damage because they were forced to buy original medicines from manufacturers at disproportionately high prices. We estimate that the compensation could be up to 50% of the cost of these medicines.