Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Texas judge tosses GM ignition-switch lawsuit

By Reuters 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
The GM logo is seen in Warren

By Jessica Dye

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A Texas judge has thrown out a lawsuit against General Motors <GM.N> from a woman who blamed a 2012 car crash on a faulty ignition switch that later prompted the company to recall 2.6 million vehicles.

Advertisement

The Aug. 13 order from Judge Robert Schaffer in Harris County, Texas, came in a 2013 case brought by Gloria Alexander that the automaker had selected as the second test trial amid 20 similar cases in that state court over the ignition switch.

The first bellwether trial, picked by plaintiffs’ lawyers, began last week. That case involves a man who had faced criminal charges in connection with a fatal accident he blamed on the ignition switch.

GM had argued that Alexander’s case had no expert testimony to support allegations the defective switch caused her 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt to veer out of control and strike a concrete barrier before being hit by a pickup truck.

A lawyer for Alexander, Angel Hagmaier, called the decision disappointing. She noted that GM previously admitted as part of an agreement to end a U.S. criminal investigation that some of its employees knew about problems with the ignition switch for more than a decade before taking action.

If the switch slips out of position, it can cut power to steering, air bags, brakes and other vehicle systems. GM had argued that because the air bags deployed in Alexander’s vehicle, the ignition switch must have been functioning properly at the time.

The judge did not elaborate in his one-page order on why he granted GM’s motion. A GM spokesman, Jim Cain, said in a statement that the ruling was the “right call.”

The Texas cases represent a small slice of the hundreds of injury and death lawsuits against GM since it began to recall vehicles equipped with the switch in 2014. Federal lawsuits have been consolidated before a judge in New York.

Just one test trial in the federal litigation reached a verdict. Jurors in March found GM was not liable for causing a 2014 crash in New Orleans. Several other test trials have been settled or voluntarily dismissed.

Another federal test trial is set to start in New York on Sept. 12. GM has already paid more than $2 billion in civil and criminal penalties and settlements involving the switch.

(Reporting by Jessica Dye; Editing by Anthony Lin and Dan Grebler)

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC7E16N-VIEWIMAGE

Advertisement - Continue reading below

U.S. motorist miles traveled in July is most for month: government
News
Reuters 1 min read

U.S. motorist miles traveled in July is most for month: government

Look Inside This Creepy Abandoned Mansion
Trending
David Clarke 3 min read

Look Inside This Creepy Abandoned Mansion

Judge throws out parts of Bill Cosby’s lawsuit over 2006 settlement
News
Reuters 2 min read

Judge throws out parts of Bill Cosby’s lawsuit over 2006 settlement

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Takes Over Former President Obama’s Top Spot as the Most Followed World Leader on Instagram
Culture
Jason Owen 4 min read

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Takes Over Former President Obama’s Top Spot as the Most Followed World Leader on Instagram

Corruption charges against former Virginia governor, wife dropped
News
Reuters 2 min read

Corruption charges against former Virginia governor, wife dropped

Zika spreads to Miami Beach, U.S. expands travel warning
News
Reuters 5 min read

Zika spreads to Miami Beach, U.S. expands travel warning

Victim’s last Snapchat starts with dancing, ends in gunfire
News
Reuters 3 min read

Victim’s last Snapchat starts with dancing, ends in gunfire

Sales to people on terrorism watch lists should be delayed: NRA
News
Reuters 1 min read

Sales to people on terrorism watch lists should be delayed: NRA

Venice star-studded film fest set to open under heightened security
Entertainment
Reuters 3 min read

Venice star-studded film fest set to open under heightened security

Will Smith, Lennox Lewis to be pallbearers at Muhammad Ali funeral
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Will Smith, Lennox Lewis to be pallbearers at Muhammad Ali funeral

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers