GM, Drivers Get First Nod for $150 Million Deal Over Gas Defect

General Motors LLC and drivers who said the company’s cars contained a gas guzzling defect won preliminary court approval of a $150 million class settlement resolving their lawsuit.

Judge Edward M. Chen of the US District Court for the Northern District of California preliminarily approved the deal Tuesday. The agreement follows a jury verdict that awarded $2,700 per person to drivers in three statewide classes who said some of GM’s trucks had an engine flaw that caused the vehicles to excessively consume oil. According to the settlement agreement, the court hadn’t entered judgment yet and GM indicated that upon ...