| Mr. Kevin Zwicker felt that something was wrong | | | | who is representing Hall and Zwicker, the lawsuits |
| with his 2004 Chevy Suburban; no it’s | | | | in Washington and Oregon are both seeking |
| wasn’t about the GM grilles but the | | | | class-action status. The suits currently cover are |
| speedometer when it indicated that he was | | | | five Chevrolet models namely and Avalanche, |
| traveling at 10 mph even though he was driving | | | | Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, and Trailblazer; and |
| at or near the speed limit on Interstate 5. | | | | four GMC models—Denali, Envoy, Sierra, and |
| Mr. Zwicker’s speedometer has failed | | | | Trailblazer; plus a Cadillac Escalade. |
| completely in April 2006 but unfortunately General | | | | Terrell said that additional suits may soon follow in |
| Motors refused to replace the defective | | | | other states but at present there is no plan in |
| speedometer stating that the truck was no longer | | | | consolidating the cases into a single national suit |
| covered by the three-year, 36,000 mile warranty | | | | against General Motors. “We think it makes |
| period. Mr. Zwicker has purchased an extended | | | | sense to prosecute GM in each state on behalf of |
| warranty which he paid $100 for a new | | | | that state’s residents.” |
| speedometer and not the regular price of $400 | | | | According to GM’s spokeswoman, the |
| to $500. | | | | company will not issue any official statement |
| Mr. Zwicker who is currently living in Snohomish is | | | | regarding the alleged lawsuits filed against it until it |
| the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit seeking | | | | has seen these lawsuits. The lawsuit filed on |
| damages on behalf of other people who also have | | | | behalf of Zwicker is asking for three types of |
| complaints about their GM vehicles. The lawsuit | | | | compensation and these are: |
| which was filed last week in the US District Court | | | | 1. replacement of all defective speedometers of |
| in Seattle is sufficient to cover complaints of all | | | | affected models |
| Washington residents who purchased GM trucks | | | | 2. reimbursement for those who has spent to |
| and sport utility vehicles from 2003 to 2007 and | | | | have their defective speedometer replaced |
| who, like Mr. Zwicker need to have their defective | | | | 3. reimbursement for those who have paid |
| speedometers replaced. | | | | speeding tickets caused by the defective |
| Mr. Zwicker has commented that although he is | | | | speedometers |
| an experienced and careful driver he is | | | | 4. reimbursement for those whose insurance |
| uncomfortable to drive not knowing how fast you | | | | rates have increased as a result of the speeding |
| are going. “I don’t think it’s fair that a | | | | tickets caused by GM’s defective |
| major manufacturer such as GM can let | | | | speedometer |
| something like this go by and not give it some | | | | The legal filing includes quotes from 19 complaints |
| serious thought.” | | | | which are posted on the web sites of National |
| An almost similar suit was filed this week at the | | | | Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other |
| US District Court in Oregon by John Hall who said | | | | sites that feature the alleged problems with GM |
| that he has paid $427.50 in January just to fix the | | | | speedometers. US District Judge John Coughenour |
| defective speedometer of his 2003 GMC Envoy | | | | has been assigned on the case and will decide |
| LE. According to Beth Terrell, an attorney with | | | | whether to certify the lawsuit as a class-action. |
| the Seattle law firm of Tousley Brain Stephens | | | | |