Blecker: GM Recalls Show Need for Harsher Penalties for "Red Collar" Criminals
Saudi Aramco’s slow trickle of IPO-related information continued this weekend, including its goal of setting overall company market value at a staggering $1.7 trillion. The figure, though massive, is still well short of the...more
In a sweeping, and arguably results-oriented opinion, the district court overseeing the General Motors ignition switch multidistrict litigation recently ruled that in roughly half of the nation's jurisdictions, a plaintiff...more
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Martin Glenn recently decided that a fully-negotiated agreement would not be enforced in the absence of required signatures. The agreement contemplated a settlement between the General Motors bankruptcy...more
A recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) internal controls enforcement action drew my attention. It was not a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement action but it certainly does have implications for a...more
Plaintiffs in two separate federal bellwether cases against General Motors (GM) have won their claims against the automobile manufacturer and its faulty ignition switches. The settlements involve two women who were seriously...more
A California federal court dismissed a proposed class action against Toyota Motor Corp. (Toyota), Ford Motor Co. (Ford) and General Motors, LLC (GM) this week, after a class of drivers alleged that the car companies failed to...more
Today, I wrap up my series on why I think compliance is at the Tipping Point. However as it is a Friday in October, I continue my tribute to the Man in the Shadows, producer Val Lewton, whose films for RKO had some of the...more
By now, anyone not living under a rock for the last 18 months is no doubt aware of the high-profile recalls that have been roiling the automotive industry. Although the long-running GM ignition switch recall may be the most...more
In This Issue: - Year of the Recall - Check Your Car Here - Free Accident Guide - Excerpt from Check to See If Your Car Is on the List: Auto Safety Crisis Spurs Record Year of Recalls - A...more
An examination of congressional investigations in 2014 reminds us that such investigations can strike an industry or company at any time. Irrespective of the subjects, the investigations typically share one or more of the...more
This past year, we witnessed the GM Ignition Switch investigation, which involved massive recalls, multiple Congressional hearings, and civil penalties; the ongoing Takata airbag inflator investigation and recalls (and more...more
The GM debacle over its handling of the ignition switch defect continues. GM’s CEO Mary Barra and the rest of GM’s leadership just do not seem to be getting the message. It is not unusual for C-Suite executives to lead from...more
September was a difficult month for NHTSA. During one week alone, a New York Times article blasted NHTSA for failing to investigate a number of defects that later resulted in injuries and fatalities and, ultimately, recalls;...more
This promises to be one of NHTSA’s busiest years for enforcement and rulemaking activity. NHTSA is expected to continue its aggressive enforcement, sparked by GM’s massive ignition switch recall and the flood of follow-on...more
44 recalls. 13 deaths. 20 million vehicles. 9 years. 3 Congressional appearances. These five numbers tell a terrible and tragic story you probably recognize as the GM ignition switch recall debacle. This is a situation that...more
Last week, NHTSA and GM announced an agreement to resolve recall timeliness claims related to GM’s massive Ignition Switch recall. In addition to the widely-reported $35 million civil penalty GM has agreed to pay (the maximum...more
With the recent high-profile recalls involving Toyota and GM, auto suppliers are anticipating a spike in recalls and asking themselves how to prepare for this inevitability. As a start, auto suppliers need to...more
GM’s well-crafted, post-bankruptcy image as a more efficient, product savvy, financially prudent, customer-focused automaker is suffering severe damage. The cause of the damage is that GM did not recall until this year over a...more