Wilson M. Dunlavey

Wilson Dunlavey is a partner in Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein’s New York office specializing in class actions on behalf of victims of environmental disasters and consumers who have unknowingly purchase products with devastating consequences to the environment.

Wilson is on the leadership team for the “Clean Diesel” multidistrict litigation against Volkswagen, which has recovered over $11 billion for its clients in a settlement without precedent. In recognition of his efforts, Wilson was awarded “California Lawyer of the Year” by the California Daily Journal in 2018. Wilson continues to prosecute claims under the Lanham Act on behalf of competitor dealerships alleging lost vehicle sales, as a result of the fraud.

Wilson is also part of the leadership team for the Fiat-Chrysler “EcoDiesel” multidistrict litigation. The plaintiffs allege that Fiat-Chrysler cheated its customers and misled the public by installing emissions defeat devices in more than 100,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 EcoDiesel vehicles. The devices allow the supposedly “Eco” vehicles to emit noxious pollutants at over twenty times the legal limit.

Additionally, Wilson is actively litigating two environmental catastrophe class actions. He represents homeowners and local businesses in one of the largest environmental disasters in United States history, the 2015 Porter Ranch gas leak near Los Angeles. He also represents approved classes of fishermen, local oil industry workers, and property owners and lessees, suing Plains All American Pipeline for the catastrophic (and preventable) 2015 Santa Barbara oil spill.

*Not admitted to practice in New York.