A Texas jury stated on Thursday a General Motors ignition switch, connected to nearly 400 injuries and deaths, was not to blame for a deadly 2011 crash, according to a company declaration.
The verdict in Harris County, Texas, was the 2nd in favor of General Motors this year in lawsuits regarding the now recalled ignition switch.
Plaintiff Zachary Stevens accused that a malfunctioning switch triggered him to lose control of his 2007 Saturn Sky and crash into another automobile, killing the other motorist. General Motors stated his negligent driving was at fault.
Throughout the trial, which opened on August 9, Stevens’ legal representatives pushed back versus General Motors and noted their client suffered a serious head wound in the crash.
Manslaughter charges at first submitted against him were dropped after General Motors recalled 2.6 million automobiles with the switch in 2014, according to his suit.
Jurors deliberated for less than an hour prior to returning an unanimous verdict for General Motors, said company representative Jim Cain.
General Motors solved some claims for injuries and deaths blamed on the switch through an out-of-court program administered by Washington attorney Kenneth Feinberg. Federal suits have been combined in New York City, while about 20 are pending in the Texas state court where Stevens’ case was submitted.
A fourth trial over the switch is set to begin on September 12 in Manhattan.
General Motors has paid approximately $2 billion in criminal and civil penalties and settlements in connection with the switch, which can turn from position and cut power to steering, brakes and air bags. The company previously acknowledged that a few of its workers understood about the switch flaw for many years before a recall was initiated.
