By Paul Kurtz

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has signed off on a class-action verdict for more than 9,000 Kia owners.

It took more than a decade for this case to wind its way through the legal system, earlier this month the high court finally agreed with the jury’s verdict that the brake system of the 1997-2000 Kia Sephia was defective, leading to a premature wear-out of brake pads and rotors.

“As a result of this decision, which is very unusual, all 9,400 members of the class will each receive a check for $600 to compensate them for the additional expense they incurred,” says plaintiffs’ attorney Adam Feldman.

Feldman says it’s rare that a class action of this magnitude ever reaches the court stage.

“I think there are some corporations that just decide that they will defend and deny until they have no where else to go. Kia litigated this case for more than ten years, refused to settle, refused to even discuss resolving this case on fair terms.”

Kia must also pay all attorneys’ fees.