Ohio AG secures concession in GM bankruptcy case

COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray announced today that consumers and automobile dealers will receive important protections provided by Ohio law under the terms of an agreement approved this week in the General Motors bankruptcy proceedings.

Among the concessions Ohio sought and received from GM in the bankruptcy case are:

• Acceptance of lemon law claims without limitations on damages or attorneys fees.

• Protection of consumers’ personal information.

• Continued protection of dealers’ rights under state franchise and dealer laws.

• Full compliance with state tax liability and workers compensation laws.

• Acceptance of responsibility for compliance with environmental laws for facilities operated by the new company and assurance of funding to address environmental issues associated with old GM sites and facilities.

“Without this agreement, GM customers and dealers would have been without the protections provided by Ohio law, and taxpayers could have been on the hook for some of GM’s liabilities and expenses,” Cordray said.

Cordray, together with attorneys general from Connecticut, Nebraska, Texas and Colorado, served on the executive negotiating committee representing a group of states in the bankruptcy case.