General Motors Co. will pay compensation for 19 deaths linked to a faulty ignition switch, according to the lawyer overseeing the process, more than the 13 deaths the automaker had previously admitted were caused by the now recalled part.
Outside attorney Ken Feinberg is still reviewing claims of death and injury that occurred because of the risk that an ignition switch installed in 2.6 million GM cars can slip out of the "run" position, stalling the vehicles and disabling the cars' airbags. General Motors said it has received 445 claims related to its faulty ignition switches, 125 of which include a death. The company said that it has so far determined that 31 of these claims, including 19 involving death, are eligible for some sort of compensation. The remaining claims, GM said, are either currently under review or awaiting further documentation. Members of Congress and safety advocates have criticized GM for acknowledging only 13 deaths that were caused by the part, with some critics citing more than 100 cases.
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-- Reuters and CNBC.com
