The Law: Nader v. G.M. (Contd.)

Ralph Nader, the crusading critic of auto safety standards, has carried his long public feud with General Motors before television cameras, congressional committees and the courts. But last week both sides met quietly—and the young lawyer came away with his most lucrative victory yet. In an out-of-court settlement of his suit against G.M. for invasion of privacy, the company agreed to pay Nader $425,000 in damages.

Nader charged four years ago that once G.M. heard of his investigation of the automobile industry, which he was about to publicize in his book, Unsafe at Any Speed, the company began a snooping operation...