Updated Friday June 5th, 2009

On February 21, 2007, Amanda Dinnigan,the youngest daughter of Local 361 Ironworker Bob Dinnigan and his wife Arlene was involved in a very serious car accident. As a result Amanda was left a high-level quadriplegic. Unable to move anything below her chin and on a ventilator she needs 24/7 nursing care.

GM Bankruptcy May Result in the Dismissal of Amanda’s Claim

Following Amanda’s accident, her parents retained an attorney and a lawsuit was filed against GM.  Amanda was seated in the third row seat of a GMC Envoy XL.  The seat and seat belt system were designed in such a way that in an accident, you would slide down, and the shoulder belt was anchored so high up that it would cut into your neck.  That is what happened to Amanda.  Her neck was severely dislocated, she is paralyzed from the neck down, and she requires a ventilator to breathe.  Her medical expenses are approximately $500,000 per year.

Her case was getting close to trial, when GM filed for bankruptcy protection.  The way the President’s Auto Task Force has structured this, unless some changes are made, Amanda’s case will be dismissed, and she we not be able to recover any money against GM.  Anyone else who has a product liability claim pending against GM will also have their case dismissed.  We think this is unfair and un-American.  We are trying to get this changed, but we need your help.  The best way you can help Amanda, and others like her, is to write or email you local Senators and Congressmen.  Make them aware that this is happening, as they may not even know, and tell them that you want them to make sure that a fund is created to see that these victims are properly compensated. 

Click here to send an email directly to
The President
and ask him as the Father of a ten year old girl just like Amanda
to please intervene on Amanda's behalf with his
GM Auto Task Force
 

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Write and Call Your Representative

And Your Senator

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Letter to President Obama
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Crash Victims: Auto Bankruptcies Will 'Wipe Out' Our Rights
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GM Bankruptcy Could Cost Paralyzed L.I. Girl
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Below is the text of a letter you can copy and paste in an email to your Congressman and Senators.
Please feel free to send this email on to everyone in your address book.

Write and Call Your Representative and Your Senator

Sen. Charles E. Schumer 
Hart Senate Office Building
Room 313
Washington, DC 20510                                                              

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Room 532
Washington, DC 20510                      

Dear Sen. or Rep.

I am a member of Local 361, the Ironworker’s Union.  One of our member’s daughters, 10 year old Amanda Dinnigan, was tragically injured in an accident, apparently due to a faulty seat belt in the GMC Envoy, which cut across her neck and severed her spine.  She is now a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic, and requires around-the-clock nursing care.  She had a lawsuit pending against GM, which was moving close to trial,  when GM filed for bankruptcy.

 You may not realize this, but I am told that the way the bankruptcy filing has been structured, Amanda’s case against GM will likely be dismissed.  This is unfair to Amanda.  She is entitled to have her day in court, especially since the “new GM” will be owned by the U.S. taxpayers, and will continue to manufacture cars.  The GM/Auto task force bankruptcy plan should have taken into account the injustice that will be perpetrated upon victims of defective GM products such as Amanda Dinnigan, if their claims are extinguished.  It is not too late to act to prevent such an injustice.  We urge you to intervene with the Auto task force to create a fund to compensate victims like Amanda, or make the “new GM” liable for the claims made against the “old GM”.

 Thank you for your consideration.

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Dear Sen. or Rep.

I am writing to bring to your attention the tragic details of 10 year old Amanda Dinnigan, who was seriously injured in an accident, apparently due to a faulty seat belt in the GMC Envoy, which cut across her neck and severed her spine.  She is now a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic, and requires around-the-clock nursing care.  She had a lawsuit pending against GM, which was moving close to trial,  when GM filed for bankruptcy.

 You may not realize this, but I am told that the way the bankruptcy filing has been structured, Amanda’s case against GM will likely be dismissed.  This is unfair to Amanda.  She is entitled to have her day in court, especially since the “new GM” will be owned by the U.S. taxpayers, and will continue to manufacture cars.  The GM/Auto task force bankruptcy plan should have taken into account the injustice that will be perpetrated upon victims of defective GM products such as Amanda Dinnigan, if their claims are extinguished.  It is not too late to act to prevent such an injustice.  We urge you to intervene with the Auto task force to create a fund to compensate victims like Amanda, or make the “new GM” liable for the claims made against the “old GM”.

 Thank you for your consideration.