Feinberg helped settle key GM ignition death case – Detroit Free Press
Feinberg helped settle key GM ignition death case – Detroit Free Press
By Greg Gardener
Depositions in the Melton’s lawsuit led to disclosures that GM engineers knew as early as 2003 that the ignition switches could slip out of the on position, cutting off electricity to steering, air bags and other functions. E-mails discovered in the lawsuit showed that GM engineer Ray DiGeorgio denied ordering a design change in the switch despite other evidence that he did change the design.
The Meltons’ original settlement was placed into an escrow account because GM would not accept it, said Cooper. In January the Meltons filed a claim with the GM Ignition Compensation Fund. Feinberg flew to Atlanta and met with Cooper and another attorney, Jere Beasley, to encourage them to pursue the Meltons’ claim rather than proceed with a separate lawsuit.