For Release
June 30, 2014
Contact:
Joanne Doroshow, Executive Director, Center for Justice & Democracy at New York Law School
[email protected]
(917) 548 5263
Statement on Feinberg/GM compensation plan
We join others in expressing concern about the Feinberg GM compensation plan. While some ignition switch victims may benefit from this plan, many deserving victims will not. The proof and documentation required to prove a claim is onerous at best, but will be impossible for most and this is entirely GM's fault. It is GM's fault that significant time has passed while GM covered up this catastrophe, as documentation and evidence disappeared, and as GM misled victims into believing there was no reason to keep it if they even had it at all.
Fortunately in the case of post-2009 crashes, victims still have recourse in court. We hope they take advantage of their legal rights, find skilled attorneys to help them, and pursue their cases. For many GM victims, money is not the object. They want answers and they want justice, and only judges and juries can provide that.
Victim privacy issues are also of concern with this plan. Mr. Feinberg says private information will not be disclosed, but Mr. Feinberg works for GM. Given the privacy issues raised by the medical and financial documentation that he is demanding of GM victims, at a minimum his ethical relationship with GM must be made clear before individuals turn over their personal and private information to him. Mr. Feinberg must publicly release his contract with GM.
The Center for Justice & Democracy is the only national consumer organization in the country exclusively dedicated to protecting our civil justice system. If you'd like more information, please contact us.
