The role of General Motors Co. general counsel Michael Millikin in the deadly ignition-switch events should be a subject of intense interest and close scrutiny for lawyers working in, or for, complex corporations. But the recent, and I think overly simplistic, comments of prominent attorney John Quinn detract and do not add to a practical discussion about the responsibilities of general counsel.
Anton Valukas’ report on the controversy blamed lawyers, including senior ones, in the GM legal department for the company’s manifest failings to investigate properly and resolve quickly the ignition-switch problems that caused death and injury. Although some in-house lawyers at GM were fired, the report concluded that GC Millikin did not learn of the problem until early this year.
