GM Quietly Writing Hundreds Of Millions In Settlement Checks

[Gorehamj]

John Goreham

Contributing Writer, GM-Trucks.com

10-31-2017

With very little fanfare, GM is almost routinely writing checks for tens of millions of dollars to states and other entities to settle its ignition switch defect claims. The most recent check written is for $13.9 million to Orange County California. The Detroit Free Press reports that, thus far, GM has paid stated $120 million to settle out of court. Meanwhile, GM is aggressively fighting individual cases brought by the relatives of dead or injured former owners of allegedly defective GM vehicles. And winning. GM has yet to lose an important case that went to trial. "We must protect our consumers from businesses that put profits over people by keeping cars on roads safe and avoiding preventable accidents," District Attorney for Orange County,  Tony Rackauckas said in a statement. "We must also encourage all businesses to be fair and live up to safety standards, and must not allow those engaging in unfair practices to punish those businesses that don't cut corners by compromising safety."

[garagerog]

The individual always gets the shaft, bent over and not even getting a kiss. The govt. on the other hand can legally extort billions from corporate wrong-doing, e.g. the mortgage crisis, big tobacco settlements, ad nausem. The harmed individual rarely sees anything, it all goes to attorneys and politicians ready to spend your money to gain political favor and keep their jobs.

[swathdiver]

So what exactly is the problem with the switch and how are people hurt by it?  Looks to me at first glance like another government shakedown.

[mawint]

On 10/31/2017 at 4:18 PM, swathdiver said:

So what exactly is the problem with the switch and how are people hurt by it?  Looks to me at first glance like another government shakedown.

The issue was that people with items on their keys could potentially have enough weight to turn the vehicle off while driving. The driver would then lose power steering and brakes. 

[swathdiver]

42 minutes ago, mawint said:

The issue was that people with items on their keys could potentially have enough weight to turn the vehicle off while driving. The driver would then lose power steering and brakes. 

Well then, we have another instance of people abdicating personal responsibility.  

[MikeNH]

Josh-

 

Back when this story broke and there were like 13 initial cases it was proven like 9 either weren’t buckled up, were drunk and one had a medical episode. Obviously those are hard pin on GM. Any idea the total number of deaths that were drunk or not buckled in? I never could find that. Those people deserve no case.