Purpose of the Foundation
The purpose of the Foundation is to protect the interests of consumers – inside or outside the Netherlands (but excluding the United States) – who have suffered damages when buying or leasing vehicles, including Volkswagen, Audi, SKODA, and SEAT, as of 2008, equipped with a diesel engine with emissions fraud software. The individuals whose interests the Foundation protects are referred to as the Victims, as defined in the bylaws available on this website.
The Foundation is currently conducting test cases against Volkswagen, seeking damages on behalf of individual consumers. The aim is for Volkswagen (and its related brands such as Audi, Skoda and Seat) to understand that it must compensate consumers for the damage it has caused. The Foundation is open to starting settlement discussions with Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Seat and/or other Volkswagen entities for all (current or former) buyers and leaseholders of a Diesel car with manipulation software. One possibility would be to conclude settlement agreement(s) that could be declared generally binding under the Dutch Collective Mass Claims Settlement Act (WCAM). Without a resolution, the Foundation will continue to conduct proceedings against Volkswagen or to file new ones.
If you bought or leased a Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda or Seat diesel car from 2008 onwards, you can join the Foundation. If your car contained manipulation software, the Foundation will stand up for your interests. Sign up by clicking on the link below.
The Foundation’s strategy has already met with success, and the Foundation has convinced multiple courts of Volkswagen’s liability and significant consumer damages. For more information, see the Documents page with the latest decisions.
Board Members
Mr. H.Th. Bouma
Work experience
Until 1 February 2015: Deputy judge at the Court of Appeal in The Hague.
1970 – 2010: Partner (since 1975) and attorney-at-law at Pels Rijcken & Droogleever Fortuijn.
Specializing in corporate and insolvency law and advising government bodies and corporates.
Other functions
Chairman of the board of Stichting Spaardersbelangen (a claim foundation for the benefit of investors Aegon).
Member of the Disputes Committee dealing with disputes regarding the execution of a settlement agreement in respect of the Dexia case (share leasing).
Member of the board of Stichting OCA , a foundation that supports research in respect of class actions.
Member of the board of Stichting Belangen Rechtsbijstandsverzekerden DSB, a claim foundation that entered into a settlement agreement with consumer bank DSB Bank N.V.
Member of the board of Vereniging Achmea.
Chairman of the board of Stichting Continuïteit ASMI.
Dr A.G. Maurer
Work experience
Since 2017: Independent Arbitrator, Attorney at Law, and Managing Director of Anton Maurer International Legal Services, in Stuttgart, Germany, and in St. Moritz, Switzerland
1987 – 2016: Partner with Sigle Loose Schmidt-Diemitz & Partner, now: CMS Hasche Sigle, Stuttgart, Germany:
1983 – 1986: Associate with Sigle Loose Schmidt-Diemitz & Partner, Stuttgart, Germany
1984 – 1985: Foreign lawyer with Johnson & Swanson, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
1979 – 1982: Junior Professor (wissenschaftlicher Assistent) at Eberhard-Karls-University, Tübingen, Germany
Other functions
Member of the Board of Trustees of the Center for American and International Law (CAIL), Plano, TX, USA (since 2008)
Co-Chair of the International Arbitration Committee of IADC (since 2016)
Member of the Advisory Board of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration, Plano, TX, USA (since 1997)
Member of the Executive Committee of the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law, Plano, TX, USA (2003 – 2016)
Member of the Advisory Board of the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law, Plano, TX, USA (1993 – 2016)
Chair of the Advisory Board of the Southwestern Institute for International and Comparative Law, Plano, TX, USA (2008-2012)
Member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), Chicago, IL (2011-2014)
Chair of the International Committee of IADC (2007-2009)
Co-Chair of the International Arbitration Committee of IADC
Joop van Lunteren, Llm.
Joop van Lunteren graduated in Tax Law and Public Finance at Leyden University in 1970. He started his professional career in the Ministry of Finance and the Tax and Customs Administration as a tax inspector. Between 1974 and 1984 he held a number of positions in fields as HRM, training and Corporate Communication.
In 1984 Van Lunteren became Deputy Director-General of the Netherlands’ Tax and Customs Administration. In that position he was i.a. responsible for informatization and organizational development.
From 1993 to 2000 Van Lunteren was Director-General, Chairman of the board of the Netherlands’ Tax and Customs Administration.
From 2000 till 2002 he managed the creation of UWV, the Netherlands’ national social security agency. In 2002 Joop van Lunteren joined PBLQ(HEC) a consultancy for Netherlands’ public sector organizations.
From 2006 till 2019 Van Lunteren was vice-chair and later on member of the Board of Trustees of ABP, the Dutch public sector Pension Fund.
Since 2010 he has been associated with PBLQ as Senior Counsel and between 2013 and 2018 as Senior Adviser with The Boston Consulting Group.
From 2002 till 2010 Joop van Lunteren was chairman of the nonexecutive board of the Netherlands’ national bureau of statistics (CBS), from 2005 till 2014 member of the Supervisory Board of Dutch Infrastructure Fund and from 2010 till 2015 he chaired the Advisory Board of DUO, the administrative and financial branch of the Ministry of Education.
Occasionally Van Lunteren acts as an expert for the World Bank on tax and customs administration.
Supervisory Board Members
J.W. (Jan-Willem) Lubbers
Work experience
Since 2010: Partner at Atlas Fiscalisten, Tax advisory firm
1999 – 2010 Partner at Meijburg & Co, Tax advisory firm
1990 – 1998: Senior Manager at Meijburg & Co, Tax advisory firm
1987-1990: (assistant) Tax inspector at Dutch tax authorities
Other functions
Since 2019: Treasure of Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club, a field hockey club
Since 2011: Treasurer of Vereniging Reunisten ASC/AVSV, an alumni association
2010-2014: Treasurer of Hilversumsche Golf Club, a golf club
Since 2008: Treasurer of Vereniging Vrienden ASC/AVSV, an alumni association
Partners of the Foundation
Lemstra Van der Korst N.V advises the Foundation on legal matters, including: (i) investigating and determining the legal liability of the Volkswagen Entities; (ii) representing the Foundation in any legal proceedings, (iii) initiating discussions with Volkswagen Entities, as well as preparing legal actions against Volkswagen Entities; and (iv) conducting any settlement negotiations with Volkswagen Entities, including pursuant to the WCAM (Collective Mass Claims Settlement Act).
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP funds the Foundation for the benefit of the Victims. For this financial support, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP receives a “litigation funding fee” of up to 25% of any financial recovery plus costs. In the case of a WCAM settlement, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal will have to approve this fee. This fee is only payable if the Foundation is successful in obtaining compensation from Volkswagen for the Victims.
The Foundation cooperates with consumer organizations inside and outside the Netherlands, including the Consumers’ Association. More information about this cooperation can be found here.