Client Cleared in Fiance’s Death After Fatal Accident is Linked to GM Ignition Switch Recall
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Nov. 24, 2014) — A Van Zandt County Judge ruled Monday that Texas resident Candice Anderson had been wrongfully convicted for a fatal car crash that severely injured her and claimed the life of her fiancé, Gene Erickson, overturning a negligent homicide conviction from nearly 10 years earlier.
Erickson died on November 15, 2004 after Anderson lost control of her 2004 Saturn Ion and hit a tree.
Thomas J. Henry was hired by Candice Anderson several months ago to handle her GM ignition switch recall case. Upon being retained by Candice Anderson, Thomas J. Henry’s firm hired experts to review her case. In reviewing the case, they looked at critical evidence surrounding the death of her fiancé, Gene Erickson.
“As evidence was discovered and presented to GM, it became clear this was one of the vehicles GM acknowledged to have been defective,” co-counsel Thomas J. Henry stated.
Thomas J. Henry, along with co-counsel on the case, filed a Habeas Corpus motion in district court. The court reviewed said motion and earlier today found that Candice Anderson was innocent involving the death of Mr. Erickson.
“This moment for our client, Ms. Anderson, was extremely important because it exonerated her from the accusations and the finding of guilt that had previously plagued her life,” co-counsel Thomas J. Henry stated. “It is unfortunate to know that GM as a corporation had this information in their files and let this innocent woman be found guilty of a crime that she did not commit,” he said, adding, “this type of corporate behavior must be stopped and the true culprits involving the death of Mr. Erickson should be brought to justice in our criminal and civil system.”
In the first three months of 2014, GM recalled millions of vehicles for issues with the ignition switch which could cause the vehicles to stall and lose power.
The recall notice stated that should engine power loss occur, the vehicle could also experience loss of power steering, power brakes, and airbag functionality. The recall has been linked to 35 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Thomas J. Henry currently represents 82 individuals claiming to have lost a loved one in an accident involving a recalled GM vehicle and represents 1,300 people throughout the country affected by the recall.
Thomas J. Henry was one of the first firms in the country to accept GM ignition switch recall cases. The firm has since been instrumental in negotiating compensation terms in the Feinberg Compensation Fund and also has numerous cases pending in the multi-district litigation against GM in Judge Furman’s Federal Court in the Southern District of New York.
