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Honda Canada denies any responsibility but decides to pay 15,000 Quebec Honda and Acura owners $37.50 each  ( what about the rest of Canada, and North America? ) is this a play to cut losses and run?

A Honda spokesman stated, “”in the in the interest of customer satisfaction” and to avoid the further expense, inconvenience and distraction of burdensome and protracted litigation.”    Maybe they need to move their Lawyers onto something else!

Full text of article that appeared in the Montreal Gazette follows:

Honda owners to get rebate

Mike King, Montreal Gazette

Published: Friday, July 25

Approximately 15,000 Honda and Acura owners in Quebec have until the end of October to claim a $37.50 reimbursement from Honda Canada Inc. for a defective ignition starter switches that had to be replaced following a 2002 safety recall.

Superior Court Justice Diane Marcelin, who three years ago this week authorized a class-action civil lawsuit against the automaker, recently ratified a settlement agreement reached in April between Honda and lead plaintiff Daniel Marcoux.

Pierre Boivin, the lawyer who represented Marcoux and the other class members, said Honda’s legal counsel “fought to the end” and settled out of court on the eve of a scheduled May trial.

Richard Jacobs, manager of public relations for Honda Canada, said from Toronto yesterday the company agreed to the settlement “in the interest of customer satisfaction” and to avoid the further expense, inconvenience and distraction of burdensome and protracted litigation.

Stressing the settlement isn’t an admission of guilt, Jacobs referred to Honda’s argument in the case that it isn’t responsible for reimbursing fees charged by certain dealerships and garages for the installation of aftermarket accessories not manufactured by Honda.

The disconnection of an aftermarket accessory plugged into or attached to the ignition switch harness was sometimes necessary in order to replace the ignition switch after the 2002 recall.

Marcoux had sought $75 for each class member for trouble and inconvenience plus another $500 a person in punitive damages. Under the settlement, claimants will receive the least of $37.50 (representing more than 90 per cent of the average of the value of the cost of reinstallation of the after sales accessories) or the amount actually paid, including taxes