A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Wednesday put on hold dozens of lawsuits accusing General Motors Co (GM.N) of concealing an ignition-switch defect while the plaintiffs in those cases appeal an earlier ruling that found their cases were barred. GM had argued that claims for vehicles predating its 2009 exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy should be dismissed, following U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber’s April 15 ruling that the company was shielded from those claims by the terms of its bankruptcy. Plaintiffs said the cases should be stayed pending a resolution of their appeal.