A leading Vermont law firm has announced the filing of a class-action lawsuit against German automaker Volkswagen over allegations the company falsified emissions testing in its so-called "clean diesel" vehicles.

Tristram Coffin, a lawyer with Downs Rachlin Martin and a former Vermont U.S. attorney, announced Wednesday that Charlotte resident Robert Turnau would be the lead plaintiff in the class-action suit.

Coffin says thousands of Vermont owners of 2008 and later models of the Volkswagen Jetta, Golf, Passat and Audi A3 diesel models could be plaintiffs in the case, which was filed in the Superior Court for Chittenden County.

He says buyers tried to do right by the environment and have ended up owning "lemons."

An email sent to the Volkswagen media office did not draw an immediate response.