NEW YORK, June 17, 1999 -- Goodyear Corporation has responded to a consumer class action lawsuit by saying consumers don't have a private right to sue for reimbursement in the case. The class action suit was recently filed in the state of New York against Goodyear Auto Service Centers. It is based upon Goodyear's practice of charging a $1.00 used oil "disposal fee" to customers who bring their cars into Goodyear for an oil change.
Goodyear's "disposal fee" is explicitly prohibited by the New York Environmental Conservation Laws.
In a recent motion to dismiss the lawsuit, Goodyear concedes that it charged the fee, but argues that consumers have no private right to sue for reimbursement of the illegal fees Goodyear has collected.
