Auto Bailout Accident Victims Recovery Act of 2025
- Sponsor
- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
- Committees
- Judiciary Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Sep 11, 2025
Bottom line
H.R. 5331 aims to provide a specific group of General Motors accident victims with federal compensation by overriding legal time limits and establishing a payment formula, asserting a Fifth Amendment takings claim against the government's role in the GM bailout.
What it actually does
This bill waives the statute of limitations for a specific class action lawsuit, *Campbell, et al., v. United States, No. 15-717*, related to the 2009 General Motors bailout. It mandates the U.S. government to pay "just compensation" to eligible claimants, defined as individuals who suffered death or personal injuries from alleged GM vehicle defects and filed claims in the *In re Motors Liquidation Company* bankruptcy. The compensation formula is explicitly detailed, including a multiplier of 2.5 times the allowed bankruptcy claim amount, plus interest and legal fees.
Proponents argue
Proponents would argue that this bill provides long-overdue justice and compensation to victims who were allegedly harmed by defective GM vehicles and whose claims were complicated or diminished by the government's intervention in the GM bailout. They would contend that the government's actions in the bailout effectively extinguished or devalued these claims, constituting a "taking" under the Fifth Amendment, and therefore the government has a moral and constitutional obligation to make these victims whole, bypassing procedural hurdles like the statute of limitations.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that this bill sets a dangerous precedent by retroactively waiving statutes of limitations for specific lawsuits, potentially opening the door for numerous other claims against the government. They could contend that the defined "just compensation" formula is arbitrary and potentially excessive, creating a special carve-out for one group of litigants at taxpayer expense. Furthermore, critics might argue that the government's role in the GM bailout was to prevent a catastrophic economic collapse, not to assume liability for private tort claims, and that the bankruptcy process was the appropriate venue for such claims.
The bill text is very short and can be read quickly, but understanding its full implications requires knowledge of the GM bailout, bankruptcy law, and the Fifth Amendment's takings clause.
Section 2(a)
Waiver of Statute of Limitations
This provision explicitly states that any eligible civil action, specifically the *Campbell, et al., v. United States* lawsuit, which alleges a violation of the Fifth Amendment's takings clause related to the General Motors bailout, will not be subject to any time limits for filing or pursuing the case. This means that the government cannot use the argument that too much time has passed since the events occurred to dismiss the lawsuit, effectively reopening or advancing a case that might otherwise be legally barred due to procedural deadlines.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this waiver is essential to ensure justice for victims whose claims were uniquely impacted by the government's extraordinary intervention in the GM bailout, preventing a procedural technicality from denying substantive redress.
Critics contend
Critics contend that waiving statutes of limitations for specific cases undermines legal predictability and sets a dangerous precedent, potentially encouraging other groups to seek similar legislative interventions for their own time-barred claims.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the principle of judicial finality and procedural regularity against the perceived need for a legislative remedy for a specific group of claimants impacted by an unusual government action.
Section 2(b)
Mandate for Just Compensation
This section legally obligates the United States government to pay "just compensation" to individuals who are identified as "eligible claimants" in the specified lawsuit. These payments are intended to resolve the claims made in the eligible complaint, ensuring that those deemed eligible receive financial redress. The bill further specifies that these payments will be drawn from the Judgment Fund, a permanent appropriation used to pay legal judgments and settlements against the U.S. government, underscoring the federal responsibility for the compensation.
Section 3(2), (3)
Definition of Eligible Claimants and Complaint
This provision precisely defines who qualifies for compensation under this Act and which specific lawsuit is being addressed. An "eligible claimant" is a person who suffered death or personal injuries from alleged defects in GM vehicles manufactured before June 1, 2009, and who filed a claim in the *In re Motors Liquidation Company* bankruptcy case. The "eligible complaint" is explicitly named as *Campbell, et al., v. United States, No. 15-717*, filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, which alleges a Fifth Amendment violation due to the government's acquisition of GM assets during the 2009 bailout.
Section 3(4)
Definition of Just Compensation
This section provides a detailed formula for calculating the exact amount of "just compensation" to be paid to each eligible claimant. It specifies that the payment will be a lump sum equal to 2.5 times the "allowed amount" from the final claims register in the GM bankruptcy case, plus an annual interest rate of 3.5% compounded quarterly from July 10, 2009, until the settlement date. Additionally, it covers reasonable court-approved fees and costs for the claimants' legal counsel, ensuring that the victims receive their full compensation without deductions for legal expenses.
Section 2(c)
Attorney General Reporting Requirement
This provision establishes an accountability mechanism, requiring the Attorney General to submit a report to Congress if a settlement agreement for the eligible complaint is not reached within 60 days of the bill's enactment. This ensures that Congress is informed about any delays or obstacles in resolving the claims and provides a means for oversight, pressuring the executive branch to expedite the settlement process and fulfill the bill's intent to compensate the victims promptly.