GM Attorney's Statement Elicits Scathing Response from HMG Attorney

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, April 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- This morning, Bob Hilliard, partner at Texas law firm Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP (HMG), sent a scathing response to an email he received from GM attorney Michael Gruskin.  Hilliard's response states, among other things, that Gruskin "… is crawfish(ing), with the ghost of the old GM whispering in your ear (as) you cite the victim's lack of 'reliable scientific data' and… do nothing." Hilliard is leading a call for General Motors to issue an emergency "Park It Now" notification to owners of GM vehicles with defective ignition switches.

EMAIL TO GM CEO MARY BARRA
The heated exchange began with Hilliard's April 3 email to General Motors CEO Mary Barra reminding her of her statement in the April 2 Senate committee hearing — "Senator, if I had any data, any incidents were with just the key or the key in the ring ... if there was any risk, ... I would ground these vehicles across the country."  Hilliard presented Barra with a just such an incident — on March 2014 Laura Valle, who was using the ignition key only (no key ring holding other keys) while driving her 2007 GM Cobalt, as advised by GM's recall notice, experienced the complete shutdown of her vehicle — engine suddenly stopped, steering wheel locked, brakes failed.  Fortunately, Ms. Valle rolled to a stop without harm, although her elderly passenger was frantic.  Hilliard cited other similar incidents and called on Barra to honor her statement to Congress by immediately grounding affected GM vehicles.

GM LEGAL STAFF'S RESPONSE.
Two hours later, Hilliard received a reply from GM attorney Michael Gruskin stating that while GM is concerned about such reports, "General Motors must also be guided by reliable scientific data, and your report is inconsistent with GM's understanding of the relevant technology and science and the results of our extensive testing."

HILLIARD REPLIES IN STRONGEST TERMS
Hilliard's 5:30am reply to Gruskin revises the GM statement to reflect what Hilliard says "it really means," 'Senator, until real GM customers who suffer these events can defeat GM's internal and subjective 'reliable scientific data' test, GM will do nothing.'  Hilliard went on to say:

• "Mike, this is not a game. This should not be a 'you can't prove it to our satisfaction' one-upmanship (game)…"
• "Know this, GM will cause more deaths…Real families. True and deep loss.  Immeasurable grief."

Hilliard's response, continued:

• "GM wants 2 million defective vehicles to continue to drive our country's roads — and tomorrow's victims will perish needlessly."
• "…this new level of callousness and conscious indifference… is historic in its disregard for life's…sanctity."
• "I again implore you, I implore Mary (Barra), please save tomorrow's victim…tell your customers to park these cars."

EMERGENCY MOTION IN FEDERAL COURT TODAY
Bob Hilliard goes before a Federal Judge today at 1:30 today, April 4, to request issuance of a mandatory injunction requiring General Motors to send an immediate "Park It Now" alert to drivers of its recalled cars.

THE HEARING
Today, Friday April 4, 2014
Time: 1:30 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Court:  U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
           Honorable Nelva Gonzales Ramos
           1133 North Shoreline
           Corpus Christi TX  78401

Bob Hilliard will be available to talk with reporters after the hearing.

ABOUT HMG
Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP (HMG) specializes in mass torts, personal injury, product liability, commercial and business litigation, and wrongful death. The firm has won approximately $100,000,000 in settlements and verdicts for its clients.  Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP has been successfully representing clients in the United States and Mexico since 1986. 

HMG is actively seeking to represent other victims of GM's defective vehicles.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140404/DA98707

SOURCE Hilliard Munoz Gonzales LLP