GM let a woman go to jail to cover up mistake

[Bilge_Rat]

Woman Cleared in Death Linked to G.M.’s Faulty Ignition Switch

Candice Anderson was held responsible for the death of Gene Mikale Erickson, 25, when he was killed on Nov. 15, 2004, riding as a front-seat passenger in her beige Ion. Ms. Anderson crashed the car into a tree on a bright afternoon while driving along a country road in Ben Wheeler, Tex.

The district attorney who prosecuted Ms. Anderson submitted a statement in support of her vindication. That district attorney, Leslie Poynter Dixon, and the police trooper who investigated Ms. Anderson’s accident, whose report strongly suggested that Ms. Anderson’s driving had been influenced by intoxication, had both said that if the ignition-switch defect had been publicly known at the time of the crash, certain details of the accident — like the seemingly inexplicable lack of skid marks or evasive action — would have been seen differently.

She pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in October 2007, five months after G.M. had conducted an internal review of the case and quietly ruled its car was to blame. She served five years probation and paid more than $10,000 in fines and restitution.

G.M. did not disclose its culpability when federal safety regulators asked about the cause of the crash in a so-called death inquiry. Instead, in June 2007, the automaker wrote to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it had not assessed the cause of the crash when, in fact, it had: A G.M. engineer had ruled just a month earlier that power to the vehicle had most likely shut off.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/25/bu...=top-news&_r=0

unbelievable, yet why does it not surprise me.

[Rockstar]

Welp, I suppose this is a good lesson to learn. Just say no to drugs kiddies. 'Cause having a history of drug use will get you locked up. Just think if she was sober and never had a record. The investigation most likely would have taken a much different course.

On the otherhand, now that the truth is out there I say we send that G.M. to the slammer for the same amount of time.

[Wolferz]

Who says corporations aren't running things these days?

It seems to me that there are a number of people in positions of authority who should be investigated on charges of criminal conspiracy to not only hide the truth but, also in allowing the woman to be railroaded into a prison cell for something that wasn't her fault.

If I was her, I'd sue the pants off of everyone involved.

[Cybermat47]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Who says corporations aren't running things these days?

The corporations say that

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Who says corporations aren't running things these days?

It seems to me that there are a number of people in positions of authority who should be investigated on charges of criminal conspiracy to not only hide the truth but, also in allowing the woman to be railroaded into a prison cell for something that wasn't her fault.

If I was her, I'd sue the pants off of everyone involved.

Agreed

[swamprat69er]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Who says corporations aren't running things these days?

Big corporations have been running goobermint up here for years. Why do you think it is law that all vehicles plated and on the road must have at least personal liability and property damage insurance? Thank the insurance companies for that one. Without insurance you can't get license plates. Without license plates you can't get insurance. (In the case of motorcycles).

[Catfish]

How can anyone be surprised about that.
Or does anyone believe in amiable and trustworthy corporations?

In Germany companies write laws, which are then signed by politicians, against a small amount of.. whatever. This is not a joke, nor is it exagerrated.

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by swamprat69er

Big corporations have been running goobermint up here for years. Why do you think it is law that all vehicles plated and on the road must have at least personal liability and property damage insurance? Thank the insurance companies for that one. Without insurance you can't get license plates. Without license plates you can't get insurance. (In the case of motorcycles).

Auto insurance is a requirement here in the states too. Heaven help you if a police officer asks for your license, registration and insurance card and you don't have those items.
My stepson was stopped for speeding in a little berg south of here(speed trap) and was also cited for not signing his registration card. Which the officer confessed was one of his major pet peeves.
Financial responsibility for your auto is necessary and a good thing, considering the alternative means of a million dollar bond.
GM hid this defect on purpose to avoid culpability and some of their customers paid a very high price for their greed. The NHTSA failed in it's mission. GM failed. The justice system failed. And for what? I'm sure her insurance covered the death of her boyfriend but, that apparently wasn't enough for the prosecutor in this case. I'm sure everyone involved in this travesty from top to bottom has breathed a collective sigh of relief at this woman's forgiving nature.
Maybe it should be a requirement to install black boxes in autos to prevent this sort of bovine scattology.

If I were her, I'd sue the pants off of all of them for ruining my life.

[swamprat69er]

I think the fine is $5,000.oo for driving without insurance in Ontario.