Around 40 lawyers applied to represent plaintiffs in the General Motors trial over defective ignition switches that have forced the recall of more than 2.5 million vehicles.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman received written applications from lawyers vying for one of 15 lead spots in the litigation.

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GM's trial involves more than 600 plaintiffs suing the U.S. automobile giant for personal injury or reduced vehicle value claims related to faulty-ignition switch problems.

During a marathon hearing in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York, lawyers from across the country made four-minute presentations in a bid to secure leadership roles in the case.

The lawyers included prominent names such as David Boies, who has handled suits on same-sex marriage and antitrust claims, and Joseph Rice, who has led tobacco and asbestos cases on behalf of plaintiffs.

Rice is also known for his role in the suit against BP over an oil spill in 2010.

Boies, who is eyeing the role of lead counsel or executive committee member, said the plaintiffs would benefit from his firm's resources and national profile.

 "This is an important case, a high-profile case, and you need the very best lawyers, Boies said during his presentation. "This is not a time for false modesty."

Lawyers involved in Toyota Motor Corp.'s trial over accelerator problems also applied for a top spot in the GM case.

Furman appointed the lawyers, Elizabeth Cabraser, Mark Robinson and Steve Berman, as temporary lead counsel in the litigation against GM, but made clear that the appointments did not necessarily mean they would be hired later in the same capacity.

Berman said his experience in the Toyota case would help plaintiffs in the GM litigation.

The acceleration case ended with Toyota agreeing to a US$1.6 billion settlement of financial-loss claims by vehicle owners. 

TagsGeneral Motors, GM, ignition switch, GM litigation, GM trial, consumer welfare, GM suit