GM Sued NBC Over Rigged Fires
Indiana
February 8, 1993
In November, 1992, "Dateline NBC" broadcast a report that purported to show a General Motors truck bursting into flames as a result of a collision. The report dealt with accusations that GM trucks with "side saddle" gas tanks - tanks mounted outside the vehicle's frame - were unsafe. On February 8, 1993, General Motors sued NBC, saying the report was defamatory because "sparking devices" (tiny rockets) were used to create the fires. GM charged that by setting off the rockets, but not disclosing them, "Dateline NBC" produced a horrifying picture of a burning truck that unfairly damaged the company's reputation. NBC Settled the lawsuit the next day, saying the test was Inappropriate." A three and a half minute apology was made on the February 9, 1993, edition of "Dateline NBC". The hosts read three GM assertions of factual error by NBC, at the end of each saying that NBC officials "do not dispute" the assertion. They concluded the statements saying, "This unscientific demonstration was not representative of an actual side-impact collision." It was explained in greater detail, "Specifically NBC's contractors did put incendiary devices under the trucks to insure there would be a fire if gasoline were released from the gas tank." Harry J. Pearce, general counsel and executive vice president of GM, said, "We have reviewed the statement and we accept it." He said that GM would drop the lawsuit and that the network would reimburse GM for the cost of the investigation and had agreed not to use the crash scenes again. |
