Plaintiffs in GM Ignition Switch Case Seek Internal King & Spalding Documents – The Daily Report
By Kathy Tucker
Plaintiffs suing General Motors claiming the carmaker covered up evidence of a faulty ignition switch they blame for their daughter’s death want GM’s lawyers at King & Spalding to hand over confidential internal notes and memos about the case.
The attempt to pierce attorney-client privilege is the latest battle in a legal war over the ignition switch, which GM has acknowledged caused engines to stall, shutting off power to steering, brakes and air bags and ultimately leading to the recall of millions of cars.
The plaintiffs are represented by Lance Cooper in Marietta, whose investigation found the defect in the case of Brooke Melton, a 29-year-old nurse killed when her Chevrolet Cobalt rolled off a highway and crashed in 2010. Her parents, Ken and Beth Melton, settled their lawsuit last year for $5 million, but rescinded the settlement and reopened the case this year after learning from testimony in congressional hearings that a GM engineer lied in their deposition when he said he didn’t know about the defect.
Now the Meltons want to know who else knew—and they believe they might find a clue by reviewing communications inside GM’s longtime law firm, King & Spalding.