Attorney Gary Patrick said Chattanooga is "the most logical place for consolidating the Volkswagen litigation because it is the only location in the country where VW vehicles are being produced."
Attorney Patrick, of the local firm of Patrick, Beard, Schulman and Jacoway, said a hearing is set Dec. 3 in New Orleans on the issue.
A host of lawsuits seeking class action status have been filed since the giant automaker admitted placing "cheat devices" on emission controls to fool regulators.
Patrick, Beard, Schulman and Jacoway filed one of the first actions in Federal Court in Chattanooga. There have been seven others filed here against Volkswagen and more are expected.
The deadline is Oct. 20 for consideration before the Multi-District Litigation Judicial Panel, which will decide where the cases will be merged.
Attorney Patrick noted that some have been filed in California, others in New Jersey, and still others in Reston, Va., where Volkswagen has its U.S. headquarters.
It was in California where the deception was apparently discovered, and it has a VW testing facility. However, attorney Patrick said it only tests used cars, not new ones.