What “Greedy” Trial Lawyers and “Frivolous” Litigation Do – Public Justice Blog
By Arthur Bryant
Melton v. General Motors
After Brooke Melton noticed serious problems with her 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt, including the engine shutting off while she was driving, she took her vehicle to the local dealership. A day after she picked it up, her Cobalt suddenly lost power, veered into oncoming traffic, was struck by another vehicle, and rolled into a creek. Melton did not survive.
At the request of Melton’s parents, Lance Cooper of The Cooper Firm, a sole practitioner in Marietta, GA, launched an investigation into her death. When Cooper initially filed Melton v. General Motors, he believed the accident was caused by a defect related to a power-steering recall issued by GM one week earlier. But Cooper and the experts he hired determined that the real cause was a defective ignition switch — a defective ignition switch now famous nationwide. Cooper showed that GM had known about the deadly switch long before the accident. He exposed a corporate cover-up and inadequate federal regulation, leading to a Congressional investigation, a large settlement for the Melton family, and GM recalling over 2.5 million cars.