Meltons seek to reopen lawsuit over their daughter’s death—and attorney Michael Steinger says they have good cause.
NEW YORK – BROOKE Melton’s parents have petitioned the State of Georgia to reopen the lawsuit over her death in a GM automobile. West Palm Beach personal injury attorney Michael Steinger says the demand is an unusual one but has a chance of working.
The Meltons lost their daughter four years ago on her 29th birthday, when she lost control of her GM-made Chevy Cobalt for unknown reasons. Subsequent investigation showed that her car had shut down at high speed due to a faulty ignition switch.
Parents Ken and Beth Melton settled a lawsuit with GM in September 2013, but in January GM issued a recall for a total of 2.6 million vehicles with the same ignition switch problem, according to CNN (retrieved 05.19.2014). The Meltons say GM lied during their case.
“They claim that General Motors hid crucial documents and one GM engineer even lied under oath,” said Steinger, a founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner law firm. “If those claims are true, there is a legal basis to reopen the case.”
According to the Meltons, engineer Ray DeGiorgio stated during a deposition that no changes had been made to the Cobalt ignition switch, indicating that it was considered safe overall; but new documents show he personally signed off on changes to the switch in 2007.
“GM certainly new that the ignition switch was faulty for many years before this lawsuit,” Steinger said. “It’s been linked to a dozen deaths besides Miss Melton’s.”
Steinger says it’s not easy to get a case re-opened, but perjury is valid legal grounds for doing so.
“Our entire legal system is based on telling the truth,” he said. “If indeed there was deception then GM may have to fight the case all over again.”
About Steinger, Greene & Feiner:
Steinger, Greene & Feiner is a proven legal team whose number one goal is to get injury victims throughout Florida every dollar they truly deserve for their injuries. Since 1997, the firm’s lawyers have successfully handled cases including: auto accidents, bicycle accidents, birth injuries and catastrophic injuries. The entire legal team is committed to representing and fighting for injury victims’ best interests, giving each client insight into Florida and California laws and their rights.
Steinger, Greene & Feiner is a legal team with more than 30 lawyers and 140 legal professionals. With offices throughout South Florida – Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Port St Lucie, Okeechobee, Ft Myers, Orlando and Tampa – the firm is ready to advocate for the best interests of injury victims coast-to-coast Steinger, Greene & Feiner has recovered more than $500 million for their clients to date.
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About the Author
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.
Michael Steinger
MICHAEL S. STEINGER, founding partner of Steinger, Greene & Feiner, believes in representing real people, not big businesses. Since the firm’s creation in 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has never represented an insurance company or large corporation, and he vows to keep this promise. Over the course of his career, Michael has handled thousands of Florida accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for his clients and earning him membership into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving laws protecting injury victims and their families, Michael is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Bar Associations, and sits on the Auto Insurance Committee of the Florida Justice Association.