We represent a consumer in a lawsuit against Euro Autohaus, Inc. (in the Dallas area) and are seeking witnesses.  If you have any information about the following, please contact attorney Dean Malone at (214) 670-9989.

• How and where Euro Autohaus, Inc. purchases vehicles
• What type of work Euro Autohaus, Inc. performs on vehicles after it purchases but before it sells them to consumers
• Disclosure by Euro Autohaus, Inc. to consumers of the condition of vehicles it sells

This week, jurors awarded Glenna and Max Overbey a total verdict of over $1 million in a case against Chad Franklin and Chad Franklin National Auto Sales North, LLC.  Here are copies of jury verdict forms in the case -

Overbey verdict

Here is a link to a TV story about the case -

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/money/consumer/call_for_action/$1-million-jury-verdict-against-chad-franklin-

Our firm was not involved with the case.

We usually have at any given time a number of cases on our firm’s docket in which our clients were sold previously-wrecked or salvaged vehicles after being told that the vehicles had never been wrecked or damaged.  In some cases, our clients were shown copies of Carfax reports.  We commonly see situations in which a vehicle had suffered prior damage not reported by Carfax.  Here is an interesting television news story about previously-wrecked and damaged cars and why you might not always be able to rely on vehicle history reports -

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2009/vehicle_history_reports/main.html

Do men and women generally view cars and car sales differently?  (Okay – here come the posts.)  One article suggests that they do.  I express no opinion about assertions in the article, mainly because I am not in the mood for controversy on a Monday.  Take a look -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/catherine-lutz/why-your-car-dealer-may-b_b_616670.html 

Consumers call us on a daily basis, telling us of problems they have had with car dealers.  We hear stories about all types of unseemly tactics.  However, there is one improper tactic that seems to rise above the rest – undisclosed wrecks, damage, and/or body repairs.

It is a common occurrence for auto dealers, large and small, to purchase cars and trucks at auction.  If a dealer’s used car inventory is low, the dealer can quickly fill it up with auction vehicles.  Some auction vehicles are in great condition, while others are not.  A dealer can make a handsome profit by purchasing a previously-wrecked or damaged vehicle at auction, giving it ”lipstick” cosmetic repairs, and then selling it to a consumer without disclosing the dealer’s knowledge.  There is a word for this type of business practice - fraud.  It is also a violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices – Consumer Protection Act (“DTPA”).  Check out a dealer, before you do business with it, with the Better Business Bureau.  Google its name.  Don’t be the last to find out that a car dealer at which you purchased a car puts profits over people.

We represent a man who purchased a vehicle from Honda Cars of Katy in a lawsuit relating to the condition of the vehicle at the time of purchase.  If you have information about how Honda Cars of Katy (Kemosabe Motors, L.P.) discloses information about prior wrecks of or damage to vehicles it sells, please contact attorney Dean Malone at (214) 670-9989.

We currently represent a consumer in a lawsuit against Shafaamri Inc. d/b/a Texas Import Auto Sales, and we are looking for witnesses.  If you have information about how the dealer discloses any previous wrecks of or damage to vehicles it sells, contact lawyer Jacob Jones at (214) 670-9989.

Jacob Jones, a lawyer with our firm, recently resolved a case against a Texas car dealer on behalf of our client, Martin Garcia.  Yesterday, the New York Times featured Mr. Garcia in an article about regulation of car dealers.  The Washingon Post also ran an article today.  Here are links to the articles -

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/business/12dealers.html?src=busln

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/11/AR2010051104985.html?sid=ST2010051105161

Dean Malone appeared this week on Bob Brooks’ Prudent Money radio show.  Mr. Malone discussed car dealer fraud during the approximate thirty-minute program.  Click here to listen to the podcast -

http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/7687971

We currently have cases pending against the three dealerships mentioned in this post.  We make no allegations in this post about how these dealers conduct themselves.  Instead, we are seeking witnesses regarding the following matters at the following dealerships:

David McDavid Lincoln Mercury of Plano – How the dealership handles the sale of trade-in vehicles and/or payoff of the loans for trade-in vehicles

All-American Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Midland – How the dealership handles the sale of trade-in vehicles and/or payoff of the loans for trade-in vehicles

Monument Chevrolet (in Pasadena, Texas) – What the dealership tells consumers about the condition of vehicles for sale (such as whether there are any prior wrecks)

If you have any information, please contact attorney Jacob Jones at (214) 670-9989.