The Georgia attorney whose wrongful death suit against General Motors Co. ( GM) helped trigger the recall of 2.59 million cars is seeking to reopen the case, alleging the automaker fraudulently withheld information about its faulty ignition switches ahead of a settlement.

Lance Cooper sued GM today in Georgia state court, asking a judge to reopen the matter, initially settled in September. A GM engineer lied under oath by denying knowledge of an ignition switch design change that he had authorized, according to the complaint. The company later affirmed the engineer's fraudulent responses, Cooper said in the filing. Cooper also filed a motion for sanctions against Detroit-based GM over the alleged misconduct.

"This case is the best vehicle to get to what GM knew and when they knew it," Cooper said in a phone interview.

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