Michelson v. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft

**What Happened** Robert Michelson sued Volkswagen over what appears to be a dispute related to a vehicle purchase or product issue. Michelson brought three different types of claims against the automaker, including allegations under consumer protection laws and product liability theories. **What the Court Decided** The appeals court ruled in favor of Volkswagen and dismissed all of Michelson's claims. The court found several problems with his case: Volkswagen didn't qualify as a "supplier" under one consumer protection law that Michelson tried to use, he wasn't eligible as an individual consumer to bring claims under another trade practices law, and his product liability claim wasn't properly structured to succeed in court. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights important limitations workers and consumers face when suing large corporations. It shows that consumer protection laws have specific requirements about who can sue and under what circumstances. The ruling demonstrates that even when people believe they've been wronged by a company, technical legal requirements can prevent their cases from moving forward. Workers should understand that successfully challenging corporations often requires meeting very specific legal standards and may need experienced legal help to navigate these complex requirements.