Senate hearing investigating recalls targets GM's legal staff

A Senate subcommittee chairwoman says General Motors should have fired its chief lawyer in the wake of a long-delayed recall of millions of small cars.

An internal report found GM attorneys signed settlements with the families of crash victims but didn't tell engineers or top executives about mounting problems with ignition switches. It also found that GM's legal staff acted without urgency.

GM says faulty ignition switches were responsible for at least 13 deaths. It took the company 11 years to recall the cars.

Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri says GM's chief counsel, Michael Milliken, should be fired.

In prepared testimony, Milliken said he didn't learn about the switch issue until February and took immediate action.

Milliken, GM CEO Mary Barra and others are appearing Thursday before the subcommittee.