Judge Says Local Woman's Suit Against GM Can Move ForwardJudge Says Local Woman's Suit Against GM Can Move Forward

8/1/14 - A local woman’s class action lawsuit against GM related to safety recalls is progressing in the Big Apple. General Motors issued a recall of certain vehicles in February after a potentially-dangerous defect in the ignition system was discovered. Lorie Biggs of Pinckney was among those affected, and in May she filed a class-action lawsuit against GM in Michigan’s Eastern District Federal Court. Her attorney, Alyson Oliver, says GM knew about the defect and even tried to covertly fix it on new models, but never informed customers. As a result, people like Biggs purchased vehicles that were potentially dangerous and now cannot be resold. Biggs is claiming economic losses in court. In June, her lawsuit was transferred to New York City to be tried by the same judge presiding over GM’s bankruptcy case. Oliver tells WHMI this move made sense, since GM is claiming that it is not liable for economic losses now that it has declared bankruptcy, and this judge is the best-suited to make that determination. He has denied GM’s request that the litigation be put on hold until the company’s liability can be determined in bankruptcy court. He is now considering applications from law firms around the country seeking to become the lead counsel on the case. That decision will be made on August 11th. (TD)