A newsletter roundup of recent news stories, including the ongoing Takata airbag recall, lawsuits over faulty GM ignition switches, and an investigation into Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

1. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 7/20/16
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Courtesy news clipping service provided to clients of Walker Advertising. All material is copyrighted by respective
publications. For copies of complete articles, contact your sales rep or Walker Advertising at 1-800-4WALKER.
1. Takata air bag recall affects 1 in 8 cars, report says
Adapted from L.A. Times, 7/14/16
The Takata recall affects about 1 in 8 vehicles across the U.S., according to a report by Kelley Blue Book. The
faulty airbags can explode with too much force, spraying shrapnel into the passenger compartment. In a survey,
33% of respondents indicated they did not know whether they were affected by the Takata airbag recall, said
Senior Analyst Karl Brauer of Kelly Blue Book. The recall currently covers more than 32 million vehicles
nationwide.
2. Court Opens Door to GM Ignition Claims
Adapted from Wall Street Journal, 7/14/16
Victims of General Motors’ (GM) defective ignition switch can sue the “new GM” even if the crash occurred
prior to the “old GM’s” 2009 filing for bankruptcy, according to a ruling by the Court of Appeals for the Second
Circuit. The court found that GM was aware of the defective switch at the time of the 2009 bankruptcy filing
but concealed that information, violating due process. The defective ignition switches have been linked to 124
fatalities. GM must now face more than $10 billion in potential claims stemming from before the company’s
2009 bankruptcy filing.
3. Harley riders say brakes failed
Adapted from L.A. Times, 7/9/16
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into complaints of
brake failure in Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The agency indicated the probe covers 430,000 motorcycles with
an anti-lock braking system. Three of the 43 complaints sent to NHTSA reportedly involved crashes, while two
involved injuries.
4. Lawsuit: disability benefits reduced due to gender
Adapted from L.A. Daily Journal, 7/7/16
A class action lawsuit filed on behalf of up to 11,000 permanently disabled female workers alleges
California’s workers compensation system discriminates against women. The lawsuit—filed by Robyn C.
Crowther at Caldwell Leslie & Proctor PC, Kathryn A. Eidmann of Public Counsel, and Jennifer Reisch of Equal
Rights Advocates—alleges that the permanent disability benefits to which women are entitled are sometimes
lower solely based on gender. The complaint further alleges the California Division of Workers’ Compensation
sometimes attributes injuries to female biology rather than occupational factors.
5. A Second Federal Safety Agency Is Investigating a Fatal Tesla Crash
Adapted from N.Y. Times, 7/11/16
The National Transportation Safety board has launched an investigation into the fatal May 7 crash of a Tesla
automobile. Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Florida Highway Safety
Patrol were already investigating the incident. The crash happened while the 2015 Tesla Model S was in
Autopilot mode. Driver Joshua Brown was killed when his vehicle slammed into a tractor-trailer that had turned

2. NEWS You Can Use
From the Walker Advertising Research Desk 7/20/16
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Courtesy news clipping service provided to clients of Walker Advertising. All material is copyrighted by respective
publications. For copies of complete articles, contact your sales rep or Walker Advertising at 1-800-4WALKER.
left and was crossing in front of him. The National Transportation Safety Board normally investigates crashes
involving busses, planes, ships and trains. The agency is familiar with autopilot technology used in airplanes and
trains. Former NHTSA administrator Joan Claybrook said she thought it was appropriate for the National
Transportation Safety Board to investigate the Tesla crash.
6. Family of man slain in East L.A. files suit and Taser caused man’s heart to stop, attorney says
Adapted from L.A. Times, 7/8/16, and L.A. Times, 7/12/16
Police in Southern California may soon be facing two lawsuits over allegedly fatal encounters with police. The
family of twenty-four-year-old Eduardo Rodriguez has already filed a federal lawsuit over his Feb. 14 death.
Rodriguez was allegedly shot seventeen times after a traffic stop. A gun was recovered at the scene, but his
family alleges Rodriguez was unarmed when he was shot. The family of another man, thirty-two-year-old
Fermin Vincent Valenzuela, has retained an attorney after Valenzuela’s heart stopped following an encounter
with police. At a press conference, attorney Garo Mardirossian said Valenzuela went into cardiac arrest three
times after being hit by a taser. While an autopsy is still pending, hospital records and marks on Valenzuela’s
chest have led his family to believe the Taser may have contributed to his death.