Hagens Berman, a consumer-rights law firm, is asking employees of Delphi Automotive (NYSE:DLPH) and former employees of General Motors (NYSE:GM) to share information about the 2.6 million vehicles recalled by GM since 2013 for faulty ignition switch issues in the firm’s efforts to uncover other safety issues, and to help protect consumers’ rights though litigation.
The firm invites Delphi employees, former GM employees, and others affiliated with the auto industry to contact them by emailing GMcoverup@hbsslaw.com or visiting www.hbsslaw.com/GMcoverup – where users may submit information anonymously.
“Our investigation of GM’s recalls has shown us one thing – that the company has not been as forthcoming as they should be to protect those driving GM vehicles,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman. “Our fear is that without good people stepping forward, drivers may still be at risk.”
Steve Berman recently settled a class action against Toyota in a case involving sudden unintended acceleration, returning $1.6 billion to Toyota owners and leasers in cash and auto modifications.
The complaint filed by Berman against GM owners states that GM failed to alert consumers of the known risks they faced while driving the vehicles, despite the automaker’s promise that it would honor the federal reporting requirement of safety risks for all GM cars, including assets purchased from the 2009 bankruptcy. The safety defect involves the car’s ignition, which according to consumers, can switch off while in operation, disabling airbags and other integral electrical features such as power steering and power brakes.
In the 144-page class-action suit filed March 26, 2014 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, Hagens Berman seeks to recover from GM no less than the minimum statutory damages of $250 for each owner, which alone totals more than $350 million and could go higher, along with punitive damages for the willful nondisclosure of critical safety information, on behalf of owners of affected vehicles. The recall, which has been expanded twice since February, now includes 2.6 million vehicles. GM has also issued a recall for vehicles affected by a separate power steering issue.
“We have heard from GM owners across the country that GM’s prolonged and staged reaction to the ignition defect has shaken their confidence that the company is acting in consumers’ best interest,” Berman added. “We hope that the information provided by those within the auto-manufacturing community will help us understand the why six million cars have been recalled since mid-February.”
The firm seeks to represent all individuals who owned or leased a GM vehicle affected by the recall including: 2005-7 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2007 Pontiac G5 models, and last month extended the recall to include 2003-7 Saturn Ions, 2006-7 Chevrolet HHRs, 2006-7 Pontiac Solstice and 2007 Saturn Sky models. On March 28, 2014, the recall was expanded to include later models, including: 2008-10 Pontiac Solstice and G5 models, 2008-10 Saturn Sky models, 2008-10 Chevrolet Cobalts and 2008-11 Chevrolet HHRs. The firm’s tip line states it does not seek information from current GM employees who worked on the affected cars.
According to published reports and government documents, GM had knowledge of the serious defect as early as 2001, but critics charge that the company ignored warnings of the defect’s severity and did not caution consumers.
Reports published in 2005 state that GM issued a service bulletin for some GM vehicles, telling dealers to warn drivers to remove “unnecessary items from their key chains,” a warning that was extended a year later to a broader range of GM vehicles. Reports also state that GM said that it corrected the problem in new cars starting in 2007.
Concerned consumers who have owned or leased any of the affected GM models during the affected period are encouraged to contact a Hagens Berman attorney by emailing GeneralMotors@HBSSlaw.com or calling 206-623-7292. Additional information about the investigation is available at www.hbsslaw.com/GM.
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights law firm with offices in nine cities. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the Hagens Berman and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com.
Contacts:
Mark Firmani, 206-443-9357
mark@firmani.com
