Consumer Advice from Prof. Norman I. Silber, Hofstra University School of Law

The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

"Given the terms of the Court’s approval, consumers would be well advised to get rid of any Chrysler purchased before the deal because if this ruling holds nobody solvent will bear responsibility for design defects. When it becomes apparent that dumping these cars is the prudent thing to do, anyone who can afford to, will be apt to, do this; and this will leave mainly poor and ignorant persons holding pre-deal Chryslers. This is the most likely outcome, unless a special insurance market develops to protect, for a price, pre-deal Chryslers–which I doubt. But even then, innocent bystanders who are hurt by pre-deal Chryslers will inevitably be left in the cold.  The idea that adequate notice to non-existent, unknown and unknowable future victims of auto-related injuries can be given by placing a "notice" to such people in today’s newspapers, furthermore, makes a mockery of consumer disclosure law."