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Hyundai Kia Vehicle Theft Litigation

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In Re: Kia Hyundai Vehicle Theft
Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability LitigationCentral District of California (Southern Division - Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:22-ml-03052-JVS-KES

City of Seattle v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Western District of Washington (Seattle)
Case No. 2:23-cv-00098

City of Cincinnati v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Western Division - Los Angeles)
Case No. 2:23-cv-01750

City of Cleveland v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division - Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-00419

City of Milwaukee v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, IncEastern District of Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
Case No. 2:23-cv-00376

City of Madison v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, IncCentral District of California (Southern Division –Santa Ana)
Case No. 2:23-cv-00555

City of Buffalo v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division – Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-00572

The People of the State of California v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc. Superior Court of the State of California – County of San Diego
Case No. 37-2023-00011527

City of Rochester v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division - Santa Ana)
Case No. 2:23-cv-00736

The City of New York v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.
Southern District of New YorkCase No. 1:23-cv-04772

City of Indianapolis v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division – Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-00989

City of Yonkers v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division –Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-01182

City of Parma v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Northern District of Ohio (Cleveland)
Case No. 1:23-cv-01360

City of Green Bay v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division –Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-01665

Town of Tonawanda v. Hyundai Motor America and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division –Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-01667

Louisville / Jefferson County Metro Government v. Hyundai Motor America, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia America, Inc., and Kia Corporation Central District of California (Southern Division - Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-01919

Anne Arundel County, Maryland v. Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Corporation, and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division - Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-01998

City of Fort Wayne, Indiana v. Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Corporation, and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division - Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-01999

Town of Amherst, New York v. Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Corporation, and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division - Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-02034

City of Syracuse, New York v. Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Corporation, and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division - Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-02058

City of Lorain, Ohio v. Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Corporation, and Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division - Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:23-cv-02083

City of Tacoma v. Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Corporation, Kia America, Inc.
Central District of California (Southern Division –Santa Ana)Case No. 8:24-cv-01193

City of Durham v. Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Corporation, Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division –Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:24-cv-01662

Lexington-Fayette Urban County, Kentucky v. Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Corporation, Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division –Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:24-cv-01613

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee v. Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Corporation, Kia America, Inc.Central District of California (Southern Division –Santa Ana)
Case No. 8:24-cv-01702

Case Status

Keller Rohrback is pleased to share news that Judge Selna in the Central District of California has denied the majority of Defendants’ Motion to dismiss and permitted each governmental entity to proceed in its litigation to recover funds to address the wave of thefts unleashed on its community because these vehicles are so easy to steal.

The Order, which can be viewed here, means the In Re: Kia Hyundai Vehicle Theft Litigation Government Entities, who face a continuing and unprecedent wave of stolen automobiles caused by recent-model Hyundais and Kia, to move forward with the litigation.

According to Gretchen Freeman Cappio, Chair of the Governmental Entities Committee, “The Government Entities look forward to the next stage of this litigation, and ultimately to holding Hyundai and Kia responsible for the dramatic uptick in crime unleashed in their communities.”

Case Overview

Keller Rohrback L.L.P. represents multiple governmental entities, including the cities of Seattle, Cleveland, Cincinnati, San Diego, Milwaukee, Madison, Buffalo, Rochester, New York City, Indianapolis, Yonkers, Parma, Green Bay, Tonawanda, Louisville / Jefferson County Metro Government, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, City of Fort Wayne, Town of Amherst, New York, Syracuse, Lorain, City of Tacoma, Durham, Lexington, and Nashville that are experiencing a crime wave of stolen vehicles. The vehicles are easy to steal because of Defendants’ Hyundai Motor America’s (“Hyundai”) and Kia America, Inc.’s (“Kia”) deviation from industry norms and failure to install engine immobilizers in the majority of their vehicles manufactured for sale in the United States between 2011 and 2021. Gretchen Freeman Cappio, a Keller Rohrback partner, has been appointed by the Court to both the Executive Committee for the Multi-District Litigation (MDL) as well as Co-Chair of the Governmental Entities Committee. Additionally, Keller Rohrback partner Ryan McDevitt was named to both the Discovery Committee and Expert Committee for the MDL before Judge James V. Selna of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Defendants’ decision to forego standard safety features to prevent the easy theft of their cars put profits over safety in communities nationwide. Word spread of these vehicles’ susceptibility to theft via social media, and a surge of automobile thefts swept across the nation, driven primarily by teens and tweens stealing Kias and Hyundais. This nuisance, made possible by Hyundai and Kia’s failure to prevent easy theft, endangers the health and safety of the public, as stolen vehicles are often driven recklessly and used in the commission of other violent crimes. Already, there have been tragic reports of fatal accidents involving stolen Hyundais and Kias operated by minors.

As alleged in complaints filed by various governmental entities including Seattle, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, San Diego, Milwaukee, Madison, Buffalo, Rochester, New York City, Indianapolis, Yonkers, Parma, Green Bay, Tonawanda, Louisville / Jefferson County Metro Government, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, City of Fort Wayne, Town of Amherst, New York, Syracuse, Lorain, City of Tacoma, Durham, Lexington, and Nashville. Defendants could have prevented this nuisance by including as standard engine immobilizers, parts that are inexpensive and significantly effective in reducing the rate of vehicle theft.

If you are a municipal or county attorney or councilmember concerned with the impact that the rise in Hyundai and Kia thefts is having on your community, please contact Keller Rohrback at 800-776-6044 or [email protected] to discuss your concerns and potential legal claims.

In the News

NYC Latest City to Sue Hyundai, Kia Over Car Theft 'Epidemic', Law360, (June 6, 2023)

Chris DiLella and Andrea Day, TikTok challenge spurs rise in thefts of Kia, Hyundai cars, CNBC, (Sep. 8, 2022),

Saleen Martin, Major insurance companies drop coverage of some Hyundai, Kia vehicles after theft issues, USA Today, (Jan. 30, 2023)

Tim Arango and Jacey Fortin, Teens Are Stealing More Cars. They Learn How on Social Media, N.Y. TIMES, (March 10, 2023),

City of Buffalo files a lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai, WGRZ (March 30, 2023)

11/17/23

Order on the Motion to Dismiss

01/23/2023

City of Seattle Complaint

03/07/2023

City of Cleveland Complaint

03/08/2023

City of Cincinnati Complaint

03/17/2023

City of San Diego Complaint.pdf

03/22/2023

City of Milwaukee Complaint

03/27/2023

City of Madison Complaint

03/30/2023

City of Buffalo Complaint

04/28/2023

City of Rochester Complaint

06/06/2023

City of New York Complaint

06/06/2023

City of Indianapolis Complaint

06/22/2023

Order on Leadership

06/30/2023

City of Yonkers

09/07/2023

City of Green Bay

09/07/2023

Town of Tonawanda Complaint

10/12/2023

Louisville / Jefferson County Metro Government Complaint

10/24/2023

Anne Arundel County Complaint

10/24/2023

City of Fort Wayne Complaint

10/31/2023

Town of Amherst Complaint

11/01/2023

City of Syracuse Complaint

11/06/2023

City of Lorain Complaint

06/03/2024

City of Tacoma Complaint

07/31/2024

City of Durham Complaint

07/23/2024

Lexington Complaint

08/05/2024

Nashville Complaint

Practice Areas

Attorneys

Gretchen Freeman Cappio

Partner

Felicia Craick

Partner

Kylie Fisher

Associate

Alison Gaffney

Partner

Zack Gussin

Associate

Dean N. Kawamoto

Partner

Derek W. Loeser

Partner

Ryan McDevitt

Partner

Hyundai Kia Vehicle Theft Litigation

Case Status

Case Overview

In the News

Case Documents

Practice Areas

Attorneys