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.
About
Hagens Berman
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.
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