King & Spalding hasn’t been named as a defendant in any lawsuits stemming from the defective ignition switch that caused the car company to recall 2.6 million cars and trucks worldwide in 2014. But its role in the ignition switch problem is now in the legal spotlight. An amended consumer class action filed on June 12 alleges that the firm engaged with General Motors Co. in a racketeering conspiracy to hide the defect from federal regulators.
The amended complaint asserts that King & Spalding encouraged GM to confidentially settle lawsuits that could have revealed the ignition switch defect. In addition to the complaint, plaintiffs lawyers filed a June 11 motion to compel GM and King & Spalding to produce documents pertaining to the ignition switch.
