GM’s appeal fails

The US Supreme Court has turned away an appeal from General Motors seeking to block dozens of lawsuits over faulty ignition switches that one plaintiffs’ attorney said could expose the company to billions of dollars in additional claims. The justices without comment left in place a lower court ruling that said the automaker’s 2009 bankruptcy did not shield it from liability in the cases. An attorney representing hundreds of plaintiffs who are suing the company said it exposes GM to around 1000 additional lawsuits and US$5 billion to US$10b in liabilities. The company had argued that well-established bankruptcy law allowed the newly reorganised GM to obtain the old company’s assets “free and clear” of liabilities.