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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/may/23/general-motors-faces-huge-fine-over-criminal-ignition-defects-reports

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General Motors faces huge fine over 'criminal' ignition defects – reports General Motors faces huge fine over 'criminal' ignition defects – reports
(about 1 hour later)
US justice department investigators have identified criminal wrongdoing in General Motors’ failure to disclose a defective ignition switch, and they are negotiating what is expected to be a record penalty.US justice department investigators have identified criminal wrongdoing in General Motors’ failure to disclose a defective ignition switch, and they are negotiating what is expected to be a record penalty.
Citing people briefed on the inquiry, the New York Times reported that a settlement could be reached as soon as this summer.Citing people briefed on the inquiry, the New York Times reported that a settlement could be reached as soon as this summer.
The final number is still being negotiated but it is expected to exceed the $1.2bn paid last year by Toyota for concealing unintended acceleration problems, according to the newspaper.The final number is still being negotiated but it is expected to exceed the $1.2bn paid last year by Toyota for concealing unintended acceleration problems, according to the newspaper.
General Motors has already said it will pay at least $1m in compensation to the families of each person killed in accidents apparently caused by defective ignition switches in its cars. The ignition switch issue has been linked to 84 deaths and 157 serious injuries.
More follows. In April, a bankruptcy court ruled that GM would not have to face dozens of lawsuits over the issue because it was protected from claims on vehicles pre-dating its 2009 exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Chief executive Mary Barra admitted in an internal report in 2014 that a “pattern of incompetence” had caused the fatal delay.