New Girard Gibbs statement page posted:
San Francisco, CA — March 25, 2008 — We are pleased to inform you that the California Superior Court for Alameda County has granted preliminary approval to the settlement we reached with General Motors in the Dex-Cool class action lawsuit.  This settlement affects people who purchased or leased a “covered vehicle” anywhere in the United States other than Missouri.  A separate settlement has been reached for those who purchased or leased their vehicle in Missouri, which will offer the same benefits but will be separately approved by a Missouri court.

You may be eligible to receive between $50 and $800 in cash reimbursement under the settlement if you have paid for a covered repair prior to May 30, 2008, provided you submit a claim by October 27, 2008.  If you paid for multiple covered repairs, you may be eligible to receive multiple cash reimbursements provided you submit a separate claim for each repair.  We will send out another email shortly with instructions on how to file a claim.

Below is a list of the covered vehicles and covered repairs, along with some answers to frequently asked questions.  For further information about the settlement, please visit GirardGibbs.com.  Please do not send any documents to Girard Gibbs, General Motors, or the Court.

We encourage you to tell us what you think of the settlement by responding to this email.  Based in part on the feedback received from class members, the Court will decide whether to grant final approval to the settlement on August 29, 2008.

Girard Gibbs llp
601 California Street, Suite 1400
San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 981-4800
Fax: (415) 981-4846
www.girardgibbs.com

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q:  What vehicle repairs are covered under the settlement?
A:  There are three groups of vehicles that are covered by the settlement:  Group A Vehicles, Group B Vehicles, and Group C Vehicles.  Each group of vehicles is listed below, followed by the covered repairs for which cash reimbursement is available under the settlement.

Please note, if you own one of the models listed below, but (i) with a different engine size than what is listed, or (ii) the vehicle was manufactured using a lower intake manifold gasket other than a nylon/silicone gasket, or (iii) the vehicle is a Group A vehicle manufactured after April 9, 2003, then you are not covered by the settlement and are not eligible to file a claim. 

GROUP A VEHICLES
Model years 1995-2003
Equipped with 3.1-liter or 3.4-liter V6 engine, manufactured before April 10, 2003 with a nylon/silicone lower intake manifold gasket.
Buick: Century, Rendezvous
Chevrolet: Impala, Lumina, Malibu, Monte Carlo, Venture
Oldsmobile: Alero, Cutlass, Silhouette
Pontiac: Aztek, Grand Am, Grand Prix, Montana, Trans Sport

Note:  Some of these vehicles may have been offered for sale with an engine other than a 3.1-liter or 3.4 -liter V6 engine.  Any of the above models sold with an engine other than a 3.1-liter or 3.4 -liter V6 engine are not included and are not eligible to make a claim.

Group A Covered Repairs:  Replacement of failed nylon/silicone lower intake manifold gasket.

GROUP B VEHICLES
Model years 1995-2004
Equipped with 3.8-liter V6 engine (internal GM engine designation RPO L36).
Buick: LeSabre, Park Avenue, Regal, Riviera
Chevrolet: Camaro, Impala, Lumina, Monte Carlo
Oldsmobile: Eighty-Eight, Intrigue, LSS, Ninety-Eight
Pontiac: Bonneville, Firebird, Grand Prix
        
Note:  Some of these vehicles may have been offered for sale with an engine other than a 3.8-liter V6 engine RPO L36.  Any of the above models sold with an engine other than a 3.8-liter V6 engine RPO L36 are not included and are not eligible to make a claim.

Group B Covered Repairs:  Repairs necessitated by engine coolant sealing issues, including replacement of throttle body gasket, upper intake manifold gasket, lower intake manifold gasket, or intake manifold.

GROUP C VEHICLES
Model years 1995-2000
Equipped with 4.3-liter V6 engine
Chevrolet: Blazer, Chevrolet S-10
GMC: Envoy, Jimmy, S-15
Oldsmobile: Bravada

Group C Covered Repairs:  Repairs necessitated by cooling-system sludge, including cooling-system flush, heater core repairs, water pump repairs, or radiator cap replacement.  “Sludge” refers to a rust-like material that can form in the cooling system and whose formation is related to use of Dex-Cool.

Q:  What are the available cash reimbursements?
A:  Under the proposed settlement, GM will send cash reimbursements to class members who paid for covered repairs performed within seven years or 150,000 miles (whichever is earlier) after original delivery of the vehicle, and who submit timely and valid claims. 

The amount of reimbursement for which you are eligible depends on (i) when the covered repair was performed and (ii) the amount you paid for the repair, as described below:
a.  For a covered repair made within five years and 150,000 miles:
You may be eligible for reimbursement of the documented amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $400, if you were not previously reimbursed.

However, if you can document that the covered repair cost over $1,500 to address an internal coolant leak, your reimbursement level may be different.  If so, you may request reimbursement of 40% of the amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $800, if you were not previously reimbursed.

(An internal coolant leak means that coolant leaked from one vehicle component into another component.  Whereas an external coolant leak means that coolant leaked from inside a vehicle component to the exterior of the vehicle.)

b. For a covered repair made in the sixth year and within 150,000 miles:
You may be eligible for reimbursement of the documented amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $100, if you were not previously reimbursed.

c. For a covered repair made in the seventh year and within 150,000 miles:
You may be eligible for reimbursement of the documented amount you paid out-of-pocket up to $50, if you were not previously reimbursed.

If you paid for more than one covered repair (whether on the same vehicle or on different covered vehicles), you may submit a separate claim for each repair. 

Q:  Do I have to be the original owner in order to file a claim?
A:  No, you do not need to be the original owner in order to participate in this settlement. 

Q:  Am I still eligible to file a claim if I no longer own my vehicle?
A:  You may be eligible to participate in this settlement even if you no longer own your vehicle. Anyone who has owned or leased any of the covered vehicles and paid out of pocket for one of the covered repairs listed above is eligible to file a claim. 

Q:  I have had a Dex-Cool related problem but I have not had it repaired yet.  Can I still participate in this settlement?
A:  As long as your repair is completed prior to May 30, 2008, and within the earlier of 7 years or 150,000 miles of the original vehicle delivery date, you may be included in the settlement.

For additional information and updates go to www.girardgibbs.com