What You Should Know About the GM Lawsuit Settlement Process
General Motors recently settled a lawsuit brought against it by the state of California. The case was brought by the California District Attorney’s office, which is responsible for investigating manufacturer’s compliance with safety standards.
The decision marks the second legal victory for GM in as many months. Earlier this month, the automaker was able to settle a criminal probe by the U.S. Department of Justice that was related to the ignition switch scandal. In that case, the government was able to recover more than $5 billion from the company.
General Motors Lawsuit Settlement
General Motors has finally agreed to a $ 13.9 million lawsuit settlement with Orange County, Calif. after prosecutors accused the car company of hiding serious safety defects and replacement part costs in an attempt to avoid expensive recalls and costly part replacements.
The lawsuit was brought on behalf of the Class of 2021 car owners who were injured while in the car at the time of a rollover accident in Detroit. The cars were manufactured by GM. The settlement will close the “floating risk” exception that was used by the Obama administration to allow GM to escape liability when they knowingly sold cars with defects.
The settlement will be administered by a law firm of Price Waterhouse Coopers, according to attorneys involved in the case.
An attorney at the firm will take care of the legal agreements between the insurance provider and GM. The attorney will work on behalf of the plaintiffs, not the insurance provider. So if you are suffering from a loss, and believe that you may have a case against General Motors, you should immediately contact a lawyer to discuss the matter.
There are several steps that must be followed in the lawsuit settlement process.
First, you must file a claim with the court and attach any documents that support your claims. Second, the defendants (i.e. General Motors) must respond to the complaint within a specific amount of time, usually a year. Third, the case must be heard by a judge and you must receive a judgment in your favor if you are seeking damages.
Why is it so important for you to file your claim quickly?
Because in this case, you are entitled to ask for a trial date. You can ask the court to set a date within two months after you receive your complaint. If a judge does not grant you your rights, then you have the option of taking the matter to trial.
You could hire an attorney, but chances are that the fees involved could cause you to fall behind on paying the debt and end up losing the case.
If you decide to proceed with a lawsuit, it is important that you understand the basics of liability law. It is also important to know your legal rights. General Motors is aware that they have a lot of problems related to their vehicles, but they are fighting back against a mountain of medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.