First GM Ignition Switch Trial Set for January

General Motors will go to trial in January for what is considered to be the first “bellwether” case in the ignition switch fiasco. A U.S. judge rejected GM’s motion to dismiss the case, paving the way for a trial date of January 11.

During the trial, a jury will hear the case of Robert Scheuer, who allegedly sustained injuries because of an ignition switch defect on his 2003 Saturn Ion. In May 2014, another vehicle forced Scheuer off an Oklahoma highway causing him to collide with two trees. Thanks to a faulty ignition switch, the airbags did not deploy, his suit claims.

The Ion was one of a number of older cars recalled because they can slip out of the “run” position while in motion. In certain cars, the engine may stall and airbags may not deploy in a crash. GM started recalling 2.6 million cars last year to fix the defect, although the company has since admitted to knowing about the problem over a decade earlier. A victim’s compensation program headed by attorney Kenneth Feinberg tallied 124 deaths related to the ignition switches.

The first GM ignition switch trial is only one of six bellwether trials scheduled for 2016, reports Reuters. The results of these cases could determine the fate of future cases involving defective ignition switches.

Source: Reuters

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