A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Wednesday put on hold dozens of lawsuits accusing General Motors Co. of concealing an ignition-switch defect while the plaintiffs in those cases appeal an earlier ruling that found their cases were barred, Reuters reported yesterday. GM had argued that claims for vehicles predating its 2009 exit from chapter 11 bankruptcy should be dismissed, following Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber’s April 15 ruling that the company was shielded from those claims by the terms of its bankruptcy. Plaintiffs said that the cases should be stayed pending a resolution of their appeal. Judge Gerber said on Wednesday that it would be procedurally “cumbersome” to dismiss the cases, as GM requested, in case a higher court overturned his decision. Instead, the cases would be “simply stayed for the time being.” Gerber added that, if his decision was upheld, GM could renew its request.
