People suing General Motors Co. over a faulty ignition switch will get two chances in a Manhattan court this week to argue that the U.S. automaker should be held accountable for injuries, deaths and lost vehicle value, Reuters reported today. Jury selection starts today in the second trial involving a car accident allegedly caused by the switch. The defect, which some GM employees knew about for years, prompted the recall of 2.6 million vehicles in 2014 and has been linked to nearly 400 serious injuries and deaths. A first trial ended abruptly in January following allegations that the plaintiff gave misleading testimony. On Tuesday, in the same courthouse, plaintiffs suing over lost vehicle value and accidents that occurred before GM's 2009 bankruptcy will ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to reverse unfavorable decisions from a bankruptcy court last year. They say the rulings could impact many of their claims under a sale agreement that largely freed "New GM" from burdensome liabilities that predate the bankruptcy.
