Amanda Antell  |  July 30, 2014

Category: Consumer News

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GM ignition switch recall class action lawsuitMultiple GM ignition switch lawsuits against General Motors have been transferred to a GM multidistrict litigation (MDL) due to the similar nature of the allegations. Each of the complaints allege that several of GM’s vehicle models had defective key systems, but had been sold to general public even though the company had been aware of the flaw.

With the transfer order initiated in June, more than 40 lawsuits are being transferred to the U.S. District Court of Southern New York. These cases had been filed around the country. According to the order, the jurisdiction was chosen because it is the bankruptcy site of General Motors.

Additionally, the order stated that the Southern New York District Court had already been contacted by both General Motors and certain plaintiffs to determine whether the 2009 General Motors bankruptcy sale order prohibits the plaintiffs’ ignition defect lawsuits. This order helps the judges involved review the allegations in current lawsuits, because GM is the common defendant in both the bankruptcy suits and ignition switch recall lawsuits.

U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman is overseeing the ignition switch litigation. Each of the plaintiffs involved in the legal proceedings had purchased or leased a vehicle made by GM, with each of the affected vehicles containing a “uniformly designed ignition switch, which is substantially similar for all of the defective vehicles,” according to the GM ignition switch lawsuits.

Overview of the GM Recall

The plaintiffs who bought and leased GM cars allege that the ignition system on the vehicles had the tendency to switch positions in the barrel, which would cause the vehicles to suddenly turn off, allowing for the possibility of crashes, along with the failure of airbags.

Currently, over 300 deaths have been tied to GM ignition switch defect, leading to wrongful death and GM recall lawsuits. Approximately 1.6 million vehicles have been recalled since February 2014 over this complication, including the GM vehicles:

  • 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  • 2005-2007 Pontiac G5
  • 2003-2007 Saturn Ion
  • 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR
  • 2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit
  • 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice
  • 2007 Saturn Sky

Additionally, the plaintiffs allege that GM had known about this design defect as far back as 2001, but had concealed this information from the public.

In general, GM lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

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