Lawyer wants to move up trial date in deadly GM crash

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Marietta attorney whose lawsuit will put General Motors on trial in Cobb County State Court, Monday, let GM know he wants a jury to hear the case a year ahead of schedule.

"The Melton’s are more committed than ever to seeing this case through to trial," said Lance Cooper.

Cooper represents Ken and Beth Melton, who plan to give back a $5 million settlement GM paid after their daughter Brooke crashed and died in a Chevy Colbalt in 2010. The case exposed the GM ignition switch crisis.

Cobb County State Court Judge Kathryn Tanksley set a new trial in April 2016, hoping it would happen sooner.

"We need to do some additional discovery, but we believe we can have all of that done by January and get this case to trial next spring," Cooper said.

Cooper still plans to depose General Motors CEO Mary Barra, and expects to find damning new evidence in the 40 million documents GM is supposed to hand over in only six weeks.

A federal judge Friday put Cooper on the legal team handling hundreds of federal suits against GM.

That means the Meltons’ evidence from the case will help other families.

"We went through the documents for three years, so we know more about it than anyone," he said.

WSBTV