More than a quarter-million General Motors cars recalled for faulty ignition switches are staying on the road. On Thursday, a federal judge in Texas denied an emergency motion that would have idled all the affected cars until they are repaired. A Texas attorney who represents several clients who own affected cars had argued the vehicles posed a grave safety threat.
At least 13 people have been killed and at least 31 accidents have be caused by the defective ignition switches, which inadvertently allow the ignition to slip from the "run" to "accessory" position, which can turn off the engine and electrical components, like power steering and airbags. Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos had considered the motion for the past two weeks.
"We are pleased that the Court denied the motion for preliminary injunction," GM spokesperson Greg A. Martin said Thursday.
GM has said the affected cars, which include certain models of the Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, Saturn Ion, Chevy HHR, Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, are safe to drive until they are repaired – as long as drivers remove all keys from key rings before inserting them into their ignition switches.
At the same time, critics have noted that GM said, in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that the cars may be susceptible to heightened risks in unusual driving situations, such as driving on dirt roads or sudden, jarring movements. Replacement parts started arriving in dealerships last week, and GM expects enough parts to be produced to fix all the cars by October.
The request had been filed in US District Court in Corpus Christi, TX. Bob Hilliard, the lawyer who had filed the request, could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. In an earlier statement (which you can read, below), he said, "the defect is severe and lives are being lost. The devastation is heartbreaking and immeasurable. This is a human safety issue that is ongoing. I would not wish it on anyone in this courtroom on either side of the table."
At least 13 people have been killed and at least 31 accidents have be caused by the defective ignition switches, which inadvertently allow the ignition to slip from the "run" to "accessory" position, which can turn off the engine and electrical components, like power steering and airbags. Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos had considered the motion for the past two weeks.
"We are pleased that the Court denied the motion for preliminary injunction," GM spokesperson Greg A. Martin said Thursday.
GM has said the affected cars, which include certain models of the Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, Saturn Ion, Chevy HHR, Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, are safe to drive until they are repaired – as long as drivers remove all keys from key rings before inserting them into their ignition switches.
At the same time, critics have noted that GM said, in documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that the cars may be susceptible to heightened risks in unusual driving situations, such as driving on dirt roads or sudden, jarring movements. Replacement parts started arriving in dealerships last week, and GM expects enough parts to be produced to fix all the cars by October.
The request had been filed in US District Court in Corpus Christi, TX. Bob Hilliard, the lawyer who had filed the request, could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. In an earlier statement (which you can read, below), he said, "the defect is severe and lives are being lost. The devastation is heartbreaking and immeasurable. This is a human safety issue that is ongoing. I would not wish it on anyone in this courtroom on either side of the table."
GM Emergency Motion Delayed According to Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- This afternoon, Bob Hilliard, lead lawyer and partner at Texas law firm Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP, appeared before Federal Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to argue for an emergency motion requiring General Motors to issue an immediate "Park It Now" alert to owners of GM vehicles with defective ignition switches.
BACK IN COURT ON APRIL 9
Judge Ramos heard both sides of the argument and gave GM's legal team until April 9th to file their sur-reply to Hilliard's motion. She did not indicate when she will issue her ruling.
SAVE LIVES: PARK THE CARS
Bob Hilliard said during the Federal Court hearing: "This affects over 2 million vehicles, the defect is severe and lives are being lost. The devastation is heartbreaking and immeasurable. This is a human safety issue that is ongoing. I would not wish it on anyone in this courtroom on either side of the table. Keep tomorrow's victim alive by making sure these cars are parked."
ABOUT HMG
Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP (HMG) specializes in mass torts, personal injury, product liability, commercial and business litigation, and wrongful death. The firm has won approximately $100,000,000 in settlements and verdicts for its clients. Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP has been successfully representing clients in the United States and Mexico since 1986.
HMG is actively seeking to represent other victims of GM's defective vehicles.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- This afternoon, Bob Hilliard, lead lawyer and partner at Texas law firm Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP, appeared before Federal Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos to argue for an emergency motion requiring General Motors to issue an immediate "Park It Now" alert to owners of GM vehicles with defective ignition switches.
BACK IN COURT ON APRIL 9
Judge Ramos heard both sides of the argument and gave GM's legal team until April 9th to file their sur-reply to Hilliard's motion. She did not indicate when she will issue her ruling.
SAVE LIVES: PARK THE CARS
Bob Hilliard said during the Federal Court hearing: "This affects over 2 million vehicles, the defect is severe and lives are being lost. The devastation is heartbreaking and immeasurable. This is a human safety issue that is ongoing. I would not wish it on anyone in this courtroom on either side of the table. Keep tomorrow's victim alive by making sure these cars are parked."
ABOUT HMG
Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP (HMG) specializes in mass torts, personal injury, product liability, commercial and business litigation, and wrongful death. The firm has won approximately $100,000,000 in settlements and verdicts for its clients. Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP has been successfully representing clients in the United States and Mexico since 1986.
HMG is actively seeking to represent other victims of GM's defective vehicles.
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