Blumenthal Statement After Candice Anderson Cleared Of Negligent Homicide Charges

(Hartford, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today released the following statement after Candice Anderson of Van Zandt County, Texas, prevailed in a hearing in which she sought to overturn her 2007 plea of guilty to the charge of criminal negligent homicide for the death of her fiancé, Gene Erickson. The county district attorney’s office agreed that Mr. Erickson’s death was the direct result of a defective ignition switch in the 2004 Saturn Ion that Ms. Anderson was driving at the time. Mr. Erickson was listed by General Motors as one of the initial 13 victims of the defective switch that has led the company to recall of millions of vehicles this year.

“Candice Anderson suffered for a decade from needless guilt and heartache – and completely unfounded, unfair legal consequences. Her plight demonstrates just how far the consequences of General Motors’ concealment go – hurting not just direct victims of defective cars but also those who were blamed for the accidents even when GM knew full well what the cause had been. This is why I called on GM CEO Mary Barra in July to ask the Texas court on her company’s behalf to clear Candice’s name. I am glad that justice has been done in Texas today, and I will continue to fight to hold GM to the standards of openness and accountability that this unfortunate chapter in its history demand.”