Attorney Bob Hilliard Successful In Obtaining District Attorney's Request For Pardon For Wrongly Convicted GM Victim

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, July 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 

Background
Almost ten years ago Candice Anderson lost control of her 2004 Saturn Ion while driving down a county road in East Texas. Candice's fiance, Gene Mikale Erickson was her passenger that day and died when their vehicle left the roadway and collided, head-on, into a nearby grove of trees.  Both Candice and Mikale's airbags failed to deploy due to the sub-standard ignition switch GM knowingly installed in millions of vehicles across the country. GM counts Mikale's death as one of the 13 confirmed fatalities linked to the faulty ignition switch.

District Attorney Requests Pardon
In a remarkable turn of events, the East Texas District Attorney at the time, Leslie Poynter Dixon places the entire blame for Ms. Anderson's accident on General Motors. "I believe (GM's defect) caused her vehicle to seize up, locking her steering and making any control of her vehicle impossible. Based upon what I now know these issues were the direct cause of the loss of control of the vehicle."

Former District Attorney Dixon goes on to state: "...it is my opinion that no action or omission of Ms. Anderson was the cause of the accident that led to her criminal charges. Had I known at the time that GM knew of these issues and has since admitted to such, I do not believe the Grand Jury would have indicted her..."

Ms. Anderson's attorney, Bob Hilliard thanks Ms. Dixon. "Ms. Dixon had the courage and humanity to realize that a wrong was committed, through no fault of the district attorney's office at the time. She has shown great character by trying to right this terrible wrong and by asking that Governor Perry pardon Candice."

Candice Anderson Reacts
"After going through a lengthy court process and the expense of several attorney fees and a bail bondsman, I was convicted of Criminal Negligent Homicide. I had to pay $2,500 fine and court cost. I also had to pay restitution in the amount of Mike's funeral. I completed 260 hours of community service. I also had to complete counseling, additional classes, and 5 years of supervision.

"Due to the wreck, and being charged with criminal negligent homicide, I lost my chosen career. I trained and worked as a Certified Nurses Aid. I applied and was denied positions at numerous jobs due to my criminal record. This affects me even to date. I've been enrolled for the past 3 years in college, studying for a degree in nursing. This has not been an easy road.

"I've seen how my conviction has affected my nieces and nephews with their school and sports. Teachers and parents that believe I'm a murderer. I worry for my children's future and how this will follow them. It's painful and I'm scared for them. I've have tried to deal with this physically and emotionally for the better part of 10 years. My conviction affects every part of my life past, present, and future. I continue to adjust and re-adjust aspects of my life due to this. I pray no one has to ever endure the torture that I have gone through because of actions made within GM again. Hopefully action can be taken in the future to prevent these devastating acts from happening to someone else."

Hilliard calls on Barra to join in the Pardon request
"I now call on Mary Barra to also send a letter requesting Ms. Anderson be pardoned as a result of her wrongful conviction. After all, GM's negligence lead to the death of Mikale Erickson---GM knew it before Candice was convicted but watched silently as this travesty played itself out. If Ms. Barra has the same moral fiber as former district attorney Dixon she will immediately join in this request for a full pardon."

ABOUT HMG     http://www.hmglawfirm.com/
Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP (HMG) specializes in mass torts, personal injury, product liability, commercial and business litigation, and wrongful death. Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP has been successfully representing clients in the United States and Mexico since 1986. Bob Hilliard obtained the Largest Verdict in the country in 2012 and the #1 verdict in Texas in 2013.

To arrange an interview with Bob Hilliard, please contact
Lauren Gomez
[email protected]
361-960-3146

PDF -  http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/ENR/FX-DA70645-Letter-for-Candice-Anderson.pdf

SOURCE Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP