Following the release of an internal audit conducted on General Motors, its CEO Mary Barra will once again testify before a congressional subcommittee, this time to address what the company really knew about the defective ignition switch and how officials plan to prevent similar errors in the future. Set for June 18, Barra’s hearing will include Anton Valukas, the former federal prosecutor who prepared the report, as its only witnesses. The two will discuss the reports findings and, hopefully, provide more detail as to how such a grievous mistake went uncorrected for nearly 15 years.

Representative Fred Upton, chairman Representative of the full committee and subcommittee chairman Representative Tim Murphy agreed that Valukass probe was exhaustive, citing disturbing truths about GM’s systemic and cultural failures that allowed this problem to go undiagnosed for over a decade.There is no doubt Barra and Valukas will be pressed to provide actionable measures to correct the issues that plagued the company for years and ultimately led to the approval of a defective ignition switch responsible for the deaths of at least 13 people.

Though the congressional hearing will address the issues that led to what Valukas has referred to as a miscommunication within the company, it will also focus on GM’s plans for establishing a victims compensation fund and how the company plans to improve its internal safety approval structure in future production.

During a congressional hearing in April, Barra deflected most of these questions and explained she would have more information following Valukass investigation into the matter. GM claims it has fired 15 employees in connection with the ignition switch defect and disciplined five others after Valukass’ report determined a communication breakdown played a major role in the production of the defective switches. Have you been involved in a collision that you believe was caused by a defective GM ignition switch? Contact a personal injury attorney in Silver Spring by calling Goldberg Finnegan at (888) 213-8140.