Was a long one because the Globe was delivered late. Had to go across town to get it.
"Internal inquiry said to focus on GM’s legal department; Documents show involvement of senior officials" by Bill Vlasic | New York Times May 18, 2014
DETROIT — As General Motors faces a number of continuing investigations into its handling of a vehicle safety defect linked to 13 deaths, its legal department has become a focus of a broad internal inquiry into how the company handled the issue, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation.
Even as GM acknowledged that it knew about the defect for more than a decade, it has insisted that work on the ignition problem was limited to a handful of midlevel employees.
Then it's murder.
Of course, no one at the top of AmeriKa's governmental or corporate institutions is ever responsible or ever knew. Apparently they are just living the good life and advancing the agendas of their ma$ters.
But a review of internal documents, e-mails, and interviews paint a different picture, showing that high-ranking officials, particularly in GM’s legal department, led by the general counsel Michael P. Millikin, acted with increasing urgency in the last 12 months to grapple with the spreading impact of defective ignition switches.
A number of departments in the company stepped up efforts to fix the switches once depositions threatened to ensnare senior officials.
That's what legal departments are for: to protect the powerful from ju$tice.
And as the automaker finally began to face up to the issue, GM lawyers moved to keep its actions secret from families of crash victims and other outsiders.
Do I really have to type anything else at this point?
AmeriKa's corporate structure has been rotted by greed, and it is now totaled.
GM declined to make Millikin or any other executives available for interviews. Since the recall began, four senior executives have resigned or left the company, including a top engineer who avoided being deposed in a lawsuit last summer when GM lawyers suddenly settled the case the day before.
Despite its agreement Friday to pay a $35 million penalty, the automaker faces several investigations, including from the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission, intently focused on whether GM’s top officers deliberately ignored the need to fix faulty ignition switches in some of its vehicles.
So that is what, less than $3 million a life?
Unacceptable!
Of course, government has been working for GM for a long, long time.
The toll on management is expected to grow in coming weeks, as a former US attorney, Anton R. Valukas, concludes an internal investigation that is being closely watched by lawmakers, federal regulators, and Justice Department investigators.
Oh, the POOR LYING SACK of SHIT MANAGEMENT!
I can't take this elitist rubbish anymore, folks. It is being written of and for the 1% with the reporters having internalized their values.
Transportation Secretary Anthony R. Foxx said Friday that GM’s unwillingness to share information it had about defective switches with regulators most likely cost lives in accidents.
No doubt here. Now when is jury selection?
GM has said that it knows of 13 deaths tied to the failure of ignition switches, which caused Chevrolet Cobalts and other cars to lose engine power and deactivate air bags.
Related: Study links GM airbag failures to 303 deaths
That is a LOT MORE than 13!
But the company has conceded that more fatalities could be linked to the problem, even as the number of GM employees involved in switch investigations was steadily expanding.
A turning point came in September, when GM lawyers unexpectedly approved a settlement of a lawsuit filed by the family of Brooke Melton, a Georgia woman who died in a Cobalt crash in 2010.
Documents show that GM restarted its nearly dormant internal investigation because of information brought to its attention in the Georgia case.
Yet from the time that GM employees began giving depositions in the case in April 2013 until the end of the year, there have been at least 112 crashes involving the now-recalled vehicles, resulting in 122 injuries and three deaths, according to federal records reviewed by The New York Times. And complaints from owners about vehicles suddenly stalling continued to be made on the safety agency’s website.
Does the fine keep rising with the death toll?
It is not clear whether defective switches played a part in any of the accidents. But the crash data and complaints do not appear to have spurred GM employees and executives to find answers about the switches until the settlement in the Melton case forced their hand.
Un-f***ing-real!
I will remember this when I see some GM commercial on TV.
GM had conducted at least eight separate internal inquiries into switch problems dating to 2004 by the time its chief switch engineer, Raymond DeGiorgio, was deposed in the Melton case last April 29.
They have KNOWN for THAT LONG, huh?
And no cla$$ action?
DeGiorgio testified to the Melton family’s lawyer, Lance Cooper, that he had never approved a change in the switch, despite evidence presented by Cooper that GM made significant upgrades to the part sometime in 2006. Documents later obtained by regulators from GM, however, show that DeGiorgio did authorize major changes to the switch in 2006.
Three other midlevel employees — Gary Altman, Brian Stouffer, and Victor Hakim — were deposed in the weeks after DeGiorgio. It would have sizable effect on their careers: Altman and DeGiorgio were suspended with pay after the recall, and Stouffer retired. Of the four, only Hakim is actively employed at GM.
Like I give a crap about their careers in GM's corporate structure. What about the VICTIMS?
GM’s legal department was also asked to produce documents about a possible switch alteration, but by mid-July, it had failed to do so.
THAT looks CRIMINAL to me!
About the same time, the head vehicle defect investigator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent GM a letter, dated July 23, with a blunt accusation: The company was slow to act on a number of safety problems.
Not just a switch?
The letter was circulated widely among prominent GM executives with safety responsibilities, including two vice presidents for product, John Calabrese and Alicia Boler-Davis, who is now GM’s chief quality officer. Also included was the vice president for regulatory affairs, Michael Robinson, and a top engineer, Jim Federico.
Then HOW COULD THEY NOT KNOW unless they are NOT READING IT -- begging the question, if not WTF where they doing to "earn" their money?
--more--"
So GM concealed, misled, lied, or whatever word you want to use, people died, and no amount of damage control is going to fix it. You can shuffle deck chairs and executive offices and get guys to retire (with full pension) while engineers are scapegoated all you want going forward, none of it will shift the interest.
So what else did GM lie about?
"General Motors Co. is still 26 percent owned by the US government, which received stock in exchange for a controversial $49.5 billion bailout that got the company through bankruptcy protection. The company is far leaner and free of massive debt now, but is still in recovery mode. The company reported a $1 billion net profit in the first quarter and is expected to report a profit again in its second-quarter financial results this week."
In this case, the US government is YOU, taxpaying citizen. In most ca$es, it is not.
"Retiring General Motors chief executive Dan Akerson said the government bailout of his company was a net gain for taxpayers — even though they lost $10.5 billion in the deal. If GM had gone under, he said, taxpayers would have had to pick up pension plans with a $26 billion shortfall, and the government would have lost billions in tax revenue and would have had to make benefit payments such as unemployment compensation."
I love the circular logic. We don't know what would have happened, so any claim is nothing but exhaust. I personally think the taxpayers would have made out better losing nothing. No bailout. I'm tired of multi-national corporations and banks being bailed out because they are too big too fail.
If that is so, then the $y$tem it$elf needs to be scrapped.
Related: US sells final GM shares, losing $10.5b on bailout
Actually, it was $11.2b, but what is another $700 million anyway? What's another deception or lie on top the mountainous pile? Why nitpick?
"Since emerging from bankruptcy, the restructured company has piled up $17.2 billion in profits."
Well, they can PAY BACK the $11.2 billion they still owe us, RIGHT?
RIGHT?
"General Motors has strung together a tidy three-year run of profits by making big dollars in its backyard.
And where would that be?
Now the question is whether its US operations can keep making enough to carry the company and cover widening losses in Europe.
They are still US-based?
General Motors Co. on Thursday posted a profit of $4.9 billion for 2012, down 36 percent from a year earlier, when it made $7.6 billion. GM’s use of US profits to cover the losses isn’t unique. Its chief rival, Ford Motor Co. posted a record North American pretax profit of $8.3 billion last year, but it lost $1.75 billion in Europe.
Seems like everyone is doing well except you, 99% of the planet.
Imagine how bad it would be were we not in recovery!
The optimism is showing up on GM’s income statement. In the fourth quarter, the company returned roughly $35 billion in US and Canadian tax credits to its books.
Don't tell me they are not paying any taxes!
Under accounting rules, GM must book the credits because it’s likely to use them to offset income taxes. Chief financial officer Dan Ammann said restoring the tax credits is good news for GM because it’s a sign that profits will continue. GM has made $13.4 billion since the start of 2010, shortly after it left bankruptcy protection."
It's up to $17.2 and counting!
"GM’s first-quarter net income fell to $1.18 billion.... General Motors Co., the largest US automaker, earned $913 million in the fourth quarter, a 2 percent gain from a year earlier. For the full year, net income was $3.77 billion."
Then the BUMPS in the ROAD!
Weaker Asian results crimp profit at GM
GM sales eyed for impact of ignition switch recall
GM’s first-quarter profit dragged down by recalls
Time to hit the brakes!
"GM is fined $35 million over deadly defect" Associated Press May 17, 2014
But GM already apologized and said sorry!
WASHINGTON — Federal safety regulators slapped General Motors with a record $35 million fine Friday for taking more than a decade to disclose an ignition-switch defect in millions of cars that has been linked to at least 13 deaths.
That is literally what that was: a SLAP to the FACE of the VICTIMS of GM!
Under an agreement with the Transportation Department, GM admitted it was slow to inform regulators, promised to report problems faster, and submitted to more in-depth government oversight of its safety operations.
LOOKS CRIMINAL to ME!
The fine was the maximum allowed.
Whose dumb idea was that?
‘‘Literally, silence can kill,’’ Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, adding: ‘‘GM did not act and did not alert us in a timely manner. What GM did was break the law.’’
Yeah, neither did someone else (see further below in this post).
And if they broke the law and people died, why just a fine?
Safety advocates said the fine, which is less than a day’s revenue for GM, is too small to deter bad behavior by automakers.
That is not a slap. That's a deep and pa$$ionate french ki$$.
How INSULTING to the VICTIMS! Btw, WHERE ARE THEY IN ALL THIS?!!!
Clarence Ditlow, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said the Justice Department — which is conducting a parallel criminal investigation — should fine the company $1 billion or more and bring charges against GM engineers and their superiors.
Still not enough money, and charges?
Ha-ha-ha-ha!
This government? Charges?
The automaker faces hundreds of lawsuits over deaths and injuries attributed to the faulty ignition switch.
Oh, yeah, them damn profit-crimping victims.
Related: GM opens talks with plaintiffs claiming harm over switch defect
The courts may rule that they have immunity due to age -- because GM asked them!
--more--"
Related:
Spyker suing GM for $3b over Saab
GM recalls 56,000 Saturn Auras for shift cable defect
GM adding 971,000 small cars to recall
GM recalls SUVs for flaw with fuel gauge
GM recalls 1.3 million cars for steering defect
GM recalls 2.7m more cars; industry on record pace
Record recalls.
GM issues new recall; 2.4m more vehicles
GM said overhauling legal department to avoid recall delay
UPDATE: GM poised for more recalls as 2 million vehicles probed
Rental firms face mounting pressure to fix recalled GM vehicles
Maybe GM vehicles should just be banned. Isn't that what you are supposed to do with death traps?
And the government regulators supposedly watching over all this?
Regulators decided against GM probe, memo says
One wonders what parties and porn interfered with their duties. Don't make me find all the links.
US criminal inquiry into GM reported
Oh, now they bring a suit -- AFTER PEOPLE HAVE DIED!!
The US GOVERNMENT is COMPLICIT in this case!
Maybe i should take a FORD for for a test drive:
"Ford is posting record profits in North America, but it’s not enough to quell unease about the company’s prospects elsewhere. The number two US automaker posted a record pretax profit of $8.3 billion in North America in 2012. Ford is distributing record profit-sharing bonuses of $8,300 to its 45,800 US workers."
Ford was the only US automaker not to accept a bailout.
"Ford joins PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, GE, Caterpillar, and Danish brewer Carlsberg, which have all signed distribution deals in Myanmar as rapid political and economic reforms transform the country from pariah state to investor darling. Myanmar is the poorest country in Southeast Asia."
"Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday that its net income rose 19 percent in the second quarter, to $1.2 billion, as it reported record sales in North America and Asia and stanched losses in Europe."
"Ford, the second-largest US automaker, earned $1.63 billion in the quarter. Ford has lost more than $1 billion in Europe so far this year and expects its full-year loss to top $1.5 billion. Last week, the company said it will close three factories in the region and eliminate 5,700 jobs. Ford’s other regional operations contributed little to its bottom line during the quarter: $45 million in pretax profit in Asia, pretax profit in South America $9 million."
So much for record profits.
Ford’s turnaround continues
Setting a record for third-quarter pretax profit of $2.6 billion, the company’s 17th consecutive profitable quarter.
Auto industry has its best January since 2008
All three US automakers post double-digit growth in sales
US automakers report double-digit gains in July
Annual sales for US automakers reach 6-year high
US auto industry poised for hiring spree
Even with added hiring, the auto industry isn’t the job creator it once was. Wages and benefits in the factories have declined. Most hires will start at around $16 per hour, just over half the pay longtime workers get. They get health insurance but get 401(k) plans instead of pensions, and they don’t get health care coverage in retirement, as longtime workers do. The industry would be adding even more workers if not for productivity gains, said Kristin Dziczek, at the Center for Automotive Research.
You guys are slaving yourselves right out of work so the company can make record profits.
After slump, March is crucial for carmakers
Ford strong in ’13, warns of challenges
Ford warns profits may fall next year
And the promised jobs dried up with them.
"Ford warning on pricing, profit margins hits stock" by TOM KRISHER | AP Auto Writer December 19, 2013
DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. warned of tough price competition and harder-to-reach profit targets Wednesday, a sign that the company and the auto industry face a tougher road after four years of robust recovery from the Great Recession.
Ford said its pretax profit next year would drop as much as $1.5 billion below a near-record level of $8.5 billion in 2013. The company will have to slow price increases in North America and its costs will rise because of an ambitious launch of almost two dozen vehicles worldwide.
Aww, they are only going to make $7 billion this year. Poor Ford.
US auto sales have risen by more than 1 million vehicles annually since 2009, but many analysts have said that pace isn’t sustainable....
At a conference for analysts on Wednesday, chief financial officer Bob Shanks warned that Ford’s profit margins in North America will shrink because of price competition, the cost of launching nearly two dozen new vehicles, and economic conditions in Europe and South America.
That spooked investors and drove the company’s shares down....
--more--"
More spooky stuff at Ford:
Ford recalls more than 692,000 vehicles
US agency closes probe into Ford pickup trucks
No recall on the EcoBoost engines?
How far they have fallen since Henry Ford started the company.
Glad I drive a Chrysler:
"Chrysler posts loss, but sales surge" Associated Press May 13, 2014
DETROIT — Chrysler Group saw big sales gains in the first quarter, thanks to the new Jeep Cherokee and Ram pickup, but it lost money because of charges related to its merger with Fiat SpA.
Chrysler posted a loss of $690 million. Excluding one-time costs of $1.2 billion, net income more than doubled to $486 million.
In January, Fiat paid $3.65 billion to a union-run health care trust to acquire Chrysler’s remaining shares. The companies are combining as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, based in London but with significant operations in Turin, Italy, and Auburn Hills, Mich. The combined company expects to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange this year.
In the merger, Chrysler agreed to pay $700 million to upgrade its factories. It took a $672 million charge for that. It also booked a $540 million noncash loss for refinancing a 2009 note issued to the union-run trust, which pays for retirees’ health care. Chrysler expects to save $200 million per year, before taxes, thanks to lower interest rates.
Profits were also hit by $100 million in recall costs. Chrysler last year recalled 1.56 million older Jeep Liberty and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs because of a risk of fires.
Can't anyone make a car that isn't a piece of shit anymore?
Chrysler’s worldwide vehicle sales rose 10 percent to 621,000.
--more--"
Let's take a cruise down memory lane:
"Chrysler has $436m profit in 2d quarter" by Tom Krisher | Associated Press July 31, 2012
DETROIT — Chrysler’s almost total reliance on North America used to be a huge weakness, one that sent the company into bankruptcy protection.
Now it’s a major strength. The region is generating profits for the company while losses in Europe and slowing sales in South America and China are drains on other carmakers.
Chrysler, which sells almost 90 percent of its cars and trucks in the United States and Canada, made a $436 million profit in the second quarter. It was a huge turnaround from a year earlier, when the company lost $370 million, mainly because it refinanced government bailout loans.
The automaker, now majority owned by Italy’s Fiat SpA, Chrysler has emerged from bankruptcy protection with far lower costs, and it has saved money by using Fiat parts and expertise to engineer new models....
Was that the point of all the bankruptcies? To destroy worker earnings?
--more--"
Related:
"Just two days after refusing a government request to recall 2.7 million older-model Jeeps, Chrysler has decided to do two other recalls totaling 630,000 vehicles worldwide."
Chrysler balks at US request to recall Jeeps
Chrysler, US end fight over Jeeps; some recalled
Chrysler to recall 5,600 cars, trucks
Chrysler Recalls More Than 850,000 SUVs
Dodge Ram ignitions to be reviewed after accidental starts
They have THAT PROBLEM, too?!!
Maybe I should have stuck with the Toyotas:
Toyota case shows it’s hard to prosecute execs
Toyota to pay $1.2b to settle criminal probe
Toyota to recall 6.4 million vehicles with defects
Maybe not.
OMG, it is already afternoon! That drive took much longer than intended.
UPDATE: Even Hyundais suck.
