Yesterday both the CEOs of General Motors and Delphi met with lawmakers in Washington regarding the ignition switch recall. Despite GM’s mea culpa, past and present, lawmakers were quick to take GM to task.
According to The New York Times, Barra said General Motors “will not expand its compensation program for victims. The company will not waive its protection from lawsuits gained in bankruptcy reorganization. It will not share more documents from its internal investigation.”
Among General Motors’ harshest critics in past months, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wasn’t placated. In response to Barra, he said, “You’ve provided answers that, I think, for me are unsatisfactory.
Added Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), “I consider it a cover-up when a manufacturer does not respond fully and accurately.”
Additionally, despite calls from several senators, Barra does not plan to dismiss General Motors’ general counsel, Michael Millikin. “Michael Millikin is a man of incredibly high integrity. He’s the person I need on this team.”
Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) responded, “It is clear that the culture of lawyering up and Whac-a-Mole to minimize liabilities in individual lawsuits killed customers of General Motors.” She feels the failure under Millikin’s leadership is “stunning” and wondered how he could not be aware that his staff knew of lawsuits about defective ignition switches that has resulted in deaths. Millikin had said he did not know about the switch problems until after the recall was ordered in February.
Lawmakers were are also upset about a Tuesday article in The New York Times that showed General Motors responding to “death inquiries” from regulators about deadly accidents by saying that it did not know the cause when the automaker actually had determined a likely cause. It was reported that GM rebuffed several inquiries. Barra has promised to review all future death inquiries with GM’s chief safety officer, Jeff Boyer. “It will be his responsibility to bring those to me.”
Comments
Senators requesting accountability……. really? Wow, talk about hypocrites. They love the limelight and as long as they can whip GM in the eyes of the media, the Senate looks relative. Mary has done 100 times more than any other auto manufacturers have ever done in regards to recalls and safety issues and been open about the entire process. Good for her to stand up to these bullies and say enough is enough. She has fired those directly responsible, hired new people to take their place and has created additional positions to make sure this never happens again.
Good for Mary for standing up to these hypocrites.
I agree as the Senate is who I am skeptical of.
Funny how they are questioning GM legal when they are mostly lawyers themselves and will not pass tort reform to protect companies from bad legal cases.
GM should be held liable for these “recalls” and be shut down. plus, your cars are unreliable and have crappy powertrains. my duaghter’s chevy spark died at 10,000 miles and my 2014 chevy camaro ss died at 2,136 miles. you ought to be shut out of buisness, you’re a disgrace.