GM Appeals Order on Resale of Coupons

General Motors Corp. appealed a Louisiana court’s decision allowing lawyers to resell coupons for the purchase of a new vehicle that were issued as part of the settlement of a massive class-action lawsuit. The auto maker asked the Louisiana 1st Circuit Court of Appeal to block a state court’s ruling last week that would allow the attorneys to resell the coupons for $100 each. GM launched a program last month that would give 5.8 million owners of 1973-1991 GM full-size pickup trucks--fitted with side-mounted gas tanks allegedly prone to explode in collisions--a certificate good for up to $1,000 off the price of many new GM vehicles. At the same time, attorneys for the truck owners launched their own offer to buy the certificates for $100 cash and establish a market to resell them. The attorneys, in conjunction with the Houston-based marketing firm Certificate Redemption Group, have set up a Web site (https://www.certificaterebates.com) and have sent letters to the truck owners.