1ST LEAD Volkswagen disappointed over new US diesel fines, lawsuits By dpa correspondents

Wolfsburg (dpa) - Volkswagen is disappointed at legal action taken against it by several US states just as it agreed to a nearly 15-billion-dollar settlement with consumers, federal and other state authorities, the German carmaker said Friday."It is regrettable that some states have decided to seek environmental claims now, notwithstanding their prior support of this ongoing federal-state collaborative process," a spokesman for Volkswagen Group said Friday in Wolfsburg, Germany.The western US state of Washington fined Volkswagen 176 million dollars Thursday for installing illegal software on many of its diesel vehicles to cheat and falsify emissions tests."Volkswagen‘s actions violated our state‘s air quality laws and put people‘s health at risk," Washington state Ecology Director Maia Bellon said.The penalty was intended to hold the automaker accountable for the environmental damage caused by the more than 21,000 vehicles registered in Washington equipped with the fraudulent software.The fine was a reminder that despite a 14.7-billion-dollar settlement reached last month with the US Environmental Protection Agency, the company‘s legal and financial woes in the US may not be over.In the settlement tentatively approved Tuesday by a US judge, Volkswagen agreed to buy back or repair the about 475,000 vehicles with affected 2-litre engines in the US and fund nationwide projects to reduce air pollution.The agreement was to bring an end to civil lawsuits filed against Volkswagen by hundreds of US consumers and 44 US states in the wake of the emissions scandal.But earlier this month, state prosecutors for Massachusetts, Maryland and New York states sued Volkswagen for violating their own environmental laws, charges not covered by the settlement.A Volkswagen spokesperson said Friday the company would examine the new complaints and respond in due course.The new lawsuits involve high risk for VW - millions more in settlements or fines could encourage other US state regulators to file additional claims.US authorities also continue to investigate possible criminal charges in connection with the emissions cheating scandal.