Thomas J. Henry Names GM CEO Mary Barra in Recall Lawsuit
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (March 20, 2014) According to allegations outlined in the most recent GM recall case filing, current and past General Motors CEOs knew or should have known that an issue with ignition switches on certain Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Saturn vehicles would result in the vehicles’ diminution of value and withheld that information from the public.
General Motors recalled 1.6 million vehicles with defective ignitions in February of 2014. These recalled vehicles have been linked to 303 deaths. News reports indicate that GM was aware of the ignition switch issue as early as 2001.
According to the recent filing by plaintiffs’ attorney Thomas J. Henry, current GM CEO Mary Barra and her predecessors: Dan Akerson (GM CEO from 9/10-1/14) Edward Whitacre, Jr. (GM CEO from 12/09-9/10), Frederick A. Henderson (GM CEO from 3/09-12/09), and G. Richard Wagoner, Jr. (GM CEO from 6/00-3/09) all had knowledge of the ignition defect and:
“…in a complete disregard of [their] duties, drove the production of the recalled vehicles, ignored the alarming number of vehicles losing power due the faulty ignition switch, refused to implement a repair to the ignition switch, actively mislead the general public regarding the safety of the recalled vehicles and refused to recall the subject vehicles.” – excerpt from Plaintiffs’ Second Amended Original Petition, CAUSE NO. 2014CCV-60443-4, filed in Nueces County Court at Law No. 4, March 20, 2014
“The CEOs and Board of Directors need to be held accountable to the fullest extent the law requires,” Thomas J. Henry stated.
He added, “GM used the American public’s money in their 2009 bailout while at the same time actively deceiving the public and hiding their vile conduct as they continued on a path of death and destruction in an effort to make money for their global corporation. All government agencies responsible for public safety, from the U.S. Congress to federal regulatory agencies, need to understand the role of corporate officers in this matter and hold them responsible for the horrific accidents and deaths and financial injury affecting people and families across the U.S.”
