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First GM Ignition Switch Trial Dismissed After Both Sides Agree

NEW YORK (WWJ/AP) - The first trial aimed at aiding settlement of hundreds of lawsuit stemming from General Motors' faulty ignition switches has been dismissed because of questions about the plaintiff's story.

The claims of an Oklahoma man whose air bags didn't inflate when his car crashed in 2014 unraveled during the Manhattan federal court trial.

At the request of lawyers on both sides, a judge dismissed the case Friday.

"This is after GM aggressively defended itself in court, painting the plaintiff as a liar," said WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert.

Gilbert says GM had always claimed this first case was "without merit", while defense attorneys claimed General Motors was drawing attention away from the real issues in the case.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman had asked the parties to discuss dropping the case a day earlier after he concluded there was merit to GM's claims that a document was doctored and injuries were exaggerated.

GM says it is pleased the case is ending without any payment to the plaintiffs. A lawyer for plaintiff Robert Scheuer said he is disappointed but that other litigation against the automaker will continue.

Gilber reports GM still faces a number of other cases defined as bellwethers that could set the pattern for further settlements. The automaker has already paid out of $2 billion in other settlements and in a voluntary compensation fund.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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