Sidley obtained the early termination of corporate probation, along with relief from all remaining unpaid criminal fines, for a leading aftermarket automotive company in United States v. Rudy’s Performance Parts, Inc., Case No. 24-cr-00336 (D.D.C. Mar. 12, 2026).

The result comes amid an important shift in federal criminal enforcement under the Clean Air Act, a cornerstone federal environmental law governing vehicle emissions. The prior prosecution involved alleged tampering with motor vehicle on-board diagnostic (“OBD”) emissions systems — the systems commonly associated with a vehicle’s “check engine” functions — under a charging theory that the U.S. Department of Justice announced in January 2026 should no longer be pursued criminally. Sidley secured the result through an unopposed motion to terminate probation and fines.

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