California Auto Defect Lawyer Brian Chase Skeptical about GM's Internal Investigation Report

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. - June 9, 2014 - PRLog -- Brian Chase, partner at California auto defect law firm, BISNAR | CHASE reacted to General Motors CEO Mary Barra's defense of the automaker's actions in connection to vehicle safety defects that have been linked to at least 13 consumer deaths and 47 car accidents. According to a June 5 report in The New York Times, Barra released to GM employees the results of an internal investigation that was headed by Anton Valukas, a former United States Attorney.

Chase represented the family of Shara Lynn Towne, whose 2004 death GM counts as the first of 13 ignition defect-related fatalities. Chase, who was interviewed by The New York Times in connection with Valukas investigation, said he was struck by Barra's failure to answer important questions.

"Why did GM fail to issue the recall when they knew about it for over a decade?" Chase asked. "Why did the company fail to compensate victims' families much sooner when they clearly were aware of this defect instead of blaming the victims? Citing incompetence as an excuse and saying 'we're sorry' simply doesn't cut it. Thirteen families, at a minimum, have lost loved ones, and perhaps many more, as a result of these serious vehicle safety defects."

Chase also said he is skeptical about the impartiality of Valukas. "This was a person whom GM paid to conduct the investigation. To whom does he owe his allegiance? Could this be considered an objective, unbiased report? “I don't think so. To me, it seems like the fox guarding the henhouse."

A June 5 New York Times report also quoted Barra as saying that the company fired 15 employees, about half of them executives, for their failure to take action on the ignition defects issue. But Barra declined to state the names and titles of these individuals.  “I have yet to hear their side of the story.  Could be we never will due to a great golden parachute exit compensation package which includes a gag order?”

"It is a scandal that this company not only failed to recall vehicles in a timely manner, but also gave victims and their families the runaround," Chase said. "Now, they are offering to set up a compensation program, which will be directed by the allegedly unbiased  Valukas. They need to step up and take responsibility here instead of making more attempts to dodge liability."

About BISNAR | CHASE

The California auto defect law firm of BISNAR | CHASE represents people who have been very seriously injured or lost a family member due to defective products, car accidents or other forms of negligence. The law firm has won a wide variety of challenging serious injury defective product cases against a number of Fortune 500 companies. For matters involving a serious injury, call 949-203-3814, or visit their website at http://www.bestattorney.com.