NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., Aug. 26, 2014 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The multidistrict-litigation court currently overseeing more than 100 class actions and numerous personal injury lawsuits against General Motors has appointed attorney Robin L. Greenwald of Weitz & Luxenberg to serve as liaison counsel.
The appointment increases the importance and influence of Weitz & Luxenberg in developing and carrying out the litigation strategies required to triumph over GM.
GM is the target of consumer lawsuits due to fatalities, bodily harm, and property damage arising from defective ignition switches and other problems plaguing recalled cars made by the automotive giant.
As liaison counsel, Ms. Greenwald will serve as the point of contact between the federal MDL court of the Hon. Jesse Furman in the Southern District of New York and the plaintiffs’ counsel.
Ms. Greenwald also will be responsible for seeing that the plaintiffs’ MDL court activities coordinate with GM-related proceedings underway in U.S. bankruptcy court in Manhattan.
The bankruptcy court proceedings concern GM’s liability for acts that predate the carmaker’s bankruptcy filing of July, 2009.
“I am honored to have been selected by Judge Furman to participate in the leadership of this case,” said Ms. Greenwald.
Ms. Greenwald – in charge of the Weitz & Luxenberg Consumer Protection and Environmental Toxic Torts group – has been at the forefront of the law firm’s quest to obtain justice on behalf of thousands of consumers harmed by GM.
“For many months, we have worked with people from around the country – people who have lost a loved one in a GM-recalled vehicle and are grieving all over again knowing now why the accidents occurred,” she said.
“For many months, we have worked with other people who suffer permanent physical injuries from accidents caused by these defective vehicles.
“And for many months we have worked with yet others who have been fortunate not to have had accidents but every day fear driving while they await GM’s delayed recall repair.”
A former assistant chief of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section, Ms. Greenwald said she believes that every person suffering from GM’s conduct deserves a day in court.
“My colleagues and I are anxious to begin the work to bring justice for everyone who has purchased one of the 13 million GM vehicles recalled for faulty ignition problems,” she said.
The class actions and personal injury lawsuits before the MDL court were transferred there from federal district courts nationwide in order to be consolidated for coordinated pretrial proceedings.
The actions brought against GM relate to claims of harm arising from economic loss and/or personal injury traceable to defective ignition switches in vehicles made by the company, Ms. Greenwald explained.
The original recall of GM vehicles covered 2.1 million vehicles manufactured between 2004 and 2012.
GM has since recalled over 10 million vehicles manufactured between 1997 and 2014, all for the same problem – defective ignition switches.
Court-watchers predict Judge Furman will at some point take steps to further define Ms. Greenwald’s role in the GM litigation.
Whatever shape her role ultimately takes, Ms. Greenwald’s appointment as liaison counsel guarantees her and her firm a prominent seat at the table, she indicated.
Currently, sitting at that table are 14 other attorneys from various firms. Each of these attorneys has been similarly tasked by the MDL court to help guide the GM actions, Ms. Greenwald said.
About Weitz & Luxenberg:
Founded in 1986 by attorneys Perry Weitz and Arthur Luxenberg, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., today ranks among the nation’s leading law firms. Weitz & Luxenberg’s numerous litigation areas include: mesothelioma, defective medicine and devices, environmental pollutants, accidents, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Victims of accidents are invited to rely on Weitz & Luxenberg’s more than 25 years of experience handling such cases. You can contact the firm’s Client Relations department at 800-476-6070 or at clientrelations@weitzlux.com.
More information: http://www.weitzluxenberg.com/ .
Published on CaliforniaNewswire.com Tue, 26 Aug 2014 ::
NEWS SOURCE: Weitz and Luxenberg, P.C. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.
