Nine States Investigate GM Ignition Switch Recall

In today’s General Motors digest: Nine states are investigating the handling of the automaker’s ignition switch recall; compensation will only focus on those injured or killed; a Georgia injury claim’s transfer to New York a sign of things to come for similar claims; and a federal official saw GM’s corporate culture at work during bankruptcy proceedings, yet remained silent.

Bloomberg reports attorneys general in Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana and Utah are all leading investigations into the February 2014 GM ignition switch recall in an effort address concerns among their constituents over their affected vehicles. Unlike the federal prosecutors in New York — who are conducting their own investigation into the recall — the attorneys general are able to make decisions faster, former Maine Attorney General Jim Tierney citing individuality as the key to quick decisions. As for potential fraud and negligence allegations, Tierney expects those questions will be answered “down the road,” the main focus of the AGs being to let GM know “they’re on the case and they’re paying attention.”

Within GM, The Detroit News says on the same day CEO Mary Barra announced she and independent investigator Anton Valukas would be heading up to Capitol Hill for a promised return to Congress, victim-compensation expert Kenneth Feinberg clarified that the fund he is designing for GM will only pay those affected by injury or death as a result of the recalled out-of-spec ignition switch found in 2.6 million vehicles; the switch is currently linked to 13 fatalities and 54 accidents. Though he has yet to determine the specifics on those to be compensated, Feinberg “will not include economic loss claims for e.g. ‘perceived diminished value.'” Those who are suing for such claims — over 70 plaintiffs — will instead meet before U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman in New York, where the automaker hopes the liability shield established upon exit from bankruptcy in 2009 will prevent those cases from moving further.

Speaking of New York, Bloomberg adds the injury lawsuit filed by Georgia attorney Lance Cooper and Alabama lawyer Jere Beasley on behalf of the family of Brooke Melton — who originally settled with GM last September prior to the recall — will likely join the economic value-related suits in New York instead of being considered for compensation. GM representative Kevin Kelly stated that any injury claim, no matter the timing, “would be subject to [Kenneth] Feinberg and the protocol he outlines,” though the automaker’s decision regarding the Melton case is, as far as it’s concerned, already settled. The Melton family is suing for damages beyond the federal minimum of $75,000, including “the full value” of their daughter’s life and funeral costs.

Finally, Automotive News reports a New York Times op-ed penned by Steven Rattner, who led the federal financial bailout of GM and Chrysler, recounted the first-hand knowledge of GM’s corporate culture at work in 2009. Rattner’s experience with the culture was as follows:

Looking under the hood of GM was the most stunningly disappointing dissection of a paid-up member of corporate America in my 30-year Wall Street career.

However, while he believed then-CEO Rick Wagoner left a lot to be desired on the corporate responsibility front — in comparison with Ford CEO Alan Mullaly — Rattner did not believe the overall senior management was at-fault for the ignition switch whose problems were years away from exploding into the spotlight.

Two safety advocates took issue with the op-ed: Care for Crash Victims auto safety research Louis Lombardo questioned Rattner’s decision to report on the culture, yet not investigate further into GM or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration beyond the bottom line; and former agency head Joan Claybrook stated his account as lacking clarity, “encouraging [GM] to have a wink, a nod and a salute” over liability concerns.