HomeMy WebLinkAbout97-05328
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~.JUL () 2 1998
GEORGE SULLENBERGER, JR.,
Plaintiff
v.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL LAW
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CHRYSLER CORPORATION,
Defendant
NO. 97~5328
PROPOSED POINTS OF CHARGE OF
DEFENDANT. CHRYSLER CORPORAT~ON
1. Under the law and evidence, your verdict mus~: be
for Chrysler Corporation.
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15. If you uecide to award plaintiff damages, then
those damages may nQt be based upon conjecture or specula~ion.
&!ddell v. L.ev~n, 537 F.2d 726, 743-33 (3d Cir. 1976) I Russell v.
City of Wildwood, 428 F.2d 1176 (3d Cir. 1970) .
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It is pla~ntiff's burden to prove that he suffered
damages.
Pa. SSJI (Civ.)
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COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL LAW
GEORGE SULLENBERGER, JR..
Plaintiff
CHRYSLER CORPORATION,
Defendant
NO. 97-5328
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AMENDED WITNESS LIST OF
DEFENDANT. CHRYSLER CORPORATION
i. Jim Salava, Chrysler'S zone technician.'
2.' Don Kennedy, Shop Foreman for Cumberland Valley Motors
(Dodge), Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
MARSHALL, 0
COLEMAN AND
WARNER,
BY,
MATTHEW L. OWENS, ESQUIRE
100 Pine Street, Fourth Floor
P . O. Box 803
Harrisburg, PA 17108-0803
1.0. No. 76080
(717) 232-9324
Attorneys for Defendant,
Chrysler Corporation ...'
DATE: ,July 2, 1998
.
IJim Salava as well as Matthew Zielkie (previoualy
identified witness) may be called as either fact witnesses or
expert witnesses at the time of trial depending upon ,Plaintiff's
case in chief. Defendant reserves the right to call either
witness as an expert or as a fact witness at the time of trial.
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~JUL 0 2 1998
IIAPItIRbUlW!SY:J I \LI/ill\ML(}\ l.l.l>tl\'16 1'11)
GEORGE SULLENBERGER, JR.,
PlaJ:nt if f
v. '
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL LAW
CHRYSLER CORPORATION,
Defendant
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NO. 97-5.328
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AMENDED E~HIBIT LIST Ql
DEFENDANT. CHRYSLER CORPORATION
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0-4. Cumberland Valley Motors service invoice dated January
27, 1995 together with all attached service records and
documents.
0-5. Cumberland Valley Motors service invoice dated May 5,
1995 together with all attached service records and documente.
0-6. Cumberland Valley Motors service invoice dated August
18, 1995 together with all attached service records and
documents.
0-7. Cumberland Valley Motors service invoice dated October
17, 1995 together with all attached service records and
documents.
0-8. Cumberland Valley Motors service invoice dated June 7,
1996 together with all attached service records and documents.
0-9. Exerpts from Black Book showing retail and wholesale
value of the subject vehicle.
0-10. Any and all tax records of Plaintiff, George
Sullenberger as produced pursuant to Defendant's Notice to
Produce at trial.
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addition, it can be served at the CT Corporation Systems, 1635
Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
BACKGROUND
3. Admitted in part; denied in part. It is admitted that
plaintiff obtained a 1995 Dodge Dakota that was manufactured and
warranted by defendant bearing vehicle identification number
1B7KF26C1SS133961. After reasonable investigation, answering
defendant is without information or knowledge sufficient to form
a belief as to the truth of the remaining averments of paragraph
3 of plaintiff's Complaint and the same are therefore denied.
4. Denied. It is denied that the price of the vehicle
including the charges and fees enumerated in plaintiff's
Complaint total more than $29,000.00. On the contrary, the price
and the alleged charges and fees do not total more than the sum
alleged.
5. Denied. It is denied that the vehicle cannot be
utilized for the purposes intended by the plaintiff. It is
further denied that defendant or its dealership performed
ineffective repairs on the vehicle. It is denied that the
vehicle is worthless. On the contrary, all repairs on the
vehicle have been effective and the vehicle performs as intended.
6. Because plaintiff has failed to define the specifics of
the alleged "several written warranties", after reasonable
investigation, answering defendant is without information or
knowledge with regard to the averments contained in paragraph 6
of plaintiff'S Complaint and the same are therefore denied.
7. Denied. I t is denifld that the vehicle experienced non-
conformities or conditions that were not corrected within the
terms of the express written warranty issued by Chrysler.
8. Admitted in part; denied in part, It is admitted that
Exhibit "B" is attached to plaintiff's Complaint and that such
exhibit appears to be a repair order from November 10, 1994.
Defendant denies the characterization of the service and the
remaining avermento of paragraph 8. The document speaks for
itself .
9. Admitted in part, denied in part. It is admitted that
Exhibit "C" is attached to plaintiff's Complaint and that such
exhibit appears to be a repair order from February 14, 1995.
Defendant denies the characterization of the service and the
remaining averments of paragraph 9. The document speaks for
itself .
10. Admitted in part; denied in part. It is admitted that
Exhibit "D" is attached to plaintiff's Complaint and that such
exhibit appears to be a repair order from August 18, 1995.
Defendant denies the c~aracterization of the service on that date
and the remaining averments of paragraph 10. The document speaks
for itself.
11. Admitted in part, denied in part. It is admitted that
Exhibit "E" is attached to plaintiff's Complaint and that such
exhibit appears to be a repair order from October 17, 1995.
Defendant denies the characterization of the service and the
remaining averments of paragraph 11. The document speaks for
itself .
12. Admitted in part; denied in part. It is admitted that
Exhibit "F" is attached to plaintiff's Complaint and that such
exhibit appears to be a repair order from October 18, 1996.
Defendant denies the characterization of the service and the
remaining averments of paragraph 12. The document speaks for
itself .
13. Admitted in part; denied in part. It is admitted that
Exhibit "G" is attached to plaintiff's Complaint and that such
exhibit appears to be a repair order from June 13, 1996.
Defendant denies the characterization of the service and the
remaining averments of paragraph 13. The document speaks for
itself .
14. Denied. The averments contained in paragraph 14 of
plaintiff's Complaint constitute conclusions of law to which no
response is required pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil
Procedure.
15. Denied, It is denied that the vehicle has been subject
to additional repair attempts. It is denied the vehicle
continues to exhibit such conditions.
COUNT I
MAGNUSON-MOSS FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION IMPROVEMENT ACT
16. Defendant, Chrysler Corporation, hereby incorporates
its answers to paragraphs 1 through 15 of plaintiff's Complaint
as though the same were set forth herein at length.
1'1. After reasonable investigation, answering defendant is
without :information or knowledge sufficient to form a belief as
to the averments contained in paragraph 17 of plaintiff's
Complaint and the same are therefnre denied.
18. Admitted.
19. Denied as stated. It is denied that the express
written warranty states in total as alleged by the plaintiff in
paragraph 19 of the Complaint. Defendant's express written
warranty speaks for itself.
20. Denied. It is denied that defendant's authorized
service facility has performed ineffective repairs. It is
further denied that defendant has breached any warranty or is
otherwise liable to the plaintiff as a result of any action or
inaction on the part of answering defendant.
21. Denied. The averments contained in paragraph 21 of
plaintiff's Complaint constitute conclusions of law to which no
response is required pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil
Procedure. It is denied that answering defendant breached any
warranty. It is further denied that any action or inaction on
the part of answering defendant caused plaintiff any damages.
22. Admitted.
23. Denied. It is denied that plaintiff is entitled to
,
attorney fees. It is further denied that upon prevailing in this
action that reasonable attorney fees are recoverable. On the
contrary, any attorney fees awarded is within the discretion of
the Court.
WHEREFORE, defendant, Chrysler Corporation, respectfully
demands judgment in ite favor and against the plaintiff together
with costs.
COUNT II
UNIFORM CO~RCIAL CODI
24. Defendant, Chrysler Corporation, hereby incorporates
its answers to paragraphs 1 through 23 of plaintiff's Complaint
as though the same were set forth herein at length.
25. Denied.
It is denied that plaintiff's vehicle
experienced any defects or nonconformities which constituted a
breach of contractual and/or statutory obligations of the
defendant.
It is further denied that defen~ant breached any
warranties either express or implied in law. On the contrary,
defendant violated no such warranties or contractual and/or
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statutory obligations.
26. After reasonable investigation, answering defendant is
without information or knowledge sufficient to form a belief as
to the truth of the averments contained in paragraph 26 of
plaintiff's Complaint and the same is therefore denied.
27. Denied. It is denied that defendant was aware that
plaintiff was relying upon defendant's alleged warranties,
obligations, and/or representations with regard to the vehicle.
On the contrary, defendant was not aware of any such alleged
reliance.
28. Denied. It is denied that defendant was aware that
plaintiff was relying upon defendant's alleged warranties,
obligations, and/or representations with regard to the vehicle.
On the contrary, defendant was not aware of any such alleged
reliance.
29. Denied. It is denied that plaintiff has suffered any
damages as a result of any action or inaction on the part of
answering defendant. On the contrary, no such damages were
incurred as a result of defendant's conduct.
30. Defendant hereby incorporates its answer to paragraph
29 of plaintiff's Complaint as though the same were set forth
herein at length.
WHEREFORE, defendant, Chrysler Corporation, respectfully
demands judgment in its favor and against the plaintiff together
with costs.
COUNT III
UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES AND CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW
31. Defendant, Chrysler Corporation, hereby incorporates
its answers to 'paragraphs 1 through 30 of plaintiff's Complaint
as though the same were set forth herein at length.
32. Admitted.
33. Admitted.
34. Denied. It is denied that defendant has failed to
comply with the terms of any written warranty issued by it. It
is further denied that defendant has engaged in unfair methods of
the competition or that any action or inaction on the part of the
defendant caused or contributed to any allege damages of the
plaintiff.
35. It is admitted the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer
Protection Law authorizes the court, in its discretion, to award
up to three times the actual damages for violation of the Act.
It is denied any violation thereof occurred.
WHEREFORE, defendant, Chrysler Corporation, respectfully
demands judgment .in its favor and against the plaintiff together
with costs.
NEW MATTIlR
36. Plaintiff's Complaint fails to state a claim for which
relief may be granted against Chryslar..
37. Plaintiff's claims are barred and/or limited by the
applicable disclaimers of warranty and limitations of damages
provisions.
38. Plaintiff's claims are barred and/or limited by his
neglect, misuse, abuse, modification, and/or alteration of the
vehicle, which is the subject of this litigation.
39. Plaintiff's claims are barr.ed and/or limited by his
failure to mitigate damages,
40. If the plaintiff sustained any alleged injuries,
damages, or losses, those injuries, damages, or losses were
caused by persons and/or entities over whom answering defendant
had no control and for whom answering defendant is not
responsible.
41. Plaintiff's alleged claims of nonconformity do not
substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle.
42. Plaintiff's claims are or may be barred by the
applicable doctrine of laches, estoppel, or waiver.
43. Plaintiff's Complaint fails to state a claim for which
any attorneys fees may be awarded.
44. Plaintiff is not entitled to recover treble damages.
45. Plaintiff's claims may be barred and/or limited by the
Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, Uniform
Commercial Code, and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
38. Specifically denied, PlaintilTnever neglected. misused. ahused, modi lied or altered
the suhjeet vehicle,
39, Denied, To the conlrary. Ihe Plaintill'hlls sOllght help fromnumeruus olher
dealerships as well as from the National Center 1<11' Dispute Settlement, Chrysler's "non-partisan"
arhitration unit. 10 nOllvail. In facI. none oflhe sell~help mellsures employed hy Plaintitl'has made
an impact on reconciling this matter,
40. Specifically denied, Plaintilrasserts thatllll e1aims arising from the instant action
related .0 Dclendant's hreaeh of its express written warranty and implied warranties at law.
41, Denied, As stated in the Complaint. Ihe non-conlormities in the instant action relate
to anti-lock brakes. detective wheels. defective I'Olors. defective engine. defective solenoids,
defective paint and driveahility concerns, Ives Bell, the "independent" NCDS inspector, veri lied
that many of the above concerns substantially impair the use. value and salety oflhe subject
vehicle, A true and corrcct copy of Mr. Bell's report is attached hereto and marked as Exhibit "A,"
42. This paragraph is a conclusion of law and requires no response, By way of further
answer, to the extent that this paragraph contains allegations of facts. the same arc specilically
denied.
43. This paragraph is a conclusion of law. and requires no response. By way of further
answer. to the extent that this paragraph contains allegations of facts. the same arc specilically
denied.
44. This paragraph is a conclusion of law, and requires no response, By way of further
answer, to the extent that this paragraph contains allegations of facts. the same arc specifically
denied.
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4. The purchase price of the vehicle, including
registration charges, document fees, sales tax, finance and bank
charges but, excludin9 other collateral charges not specified, yet
defined by the Magnusson-Moss Federal Trade Commission Improvement
Act, totaled more than $29,000.00. A true and correct copy of the
Sales Agreement is attached hereto, made a part hereof and marked
as Exhibit "A."
5. plaintiff avers that as a result of the ineffective
repair attempts made by Defendant and its authorized dedler, the
vehicle cannot be used for the purposes intended by Plaintiff at
the time of acquisition; as such, the vehicle ie worthless.
6. In consideration for the purchase of the above vehicle,
Defendant issued to Plaintiff several wr.i.tten warranties,
including a three (3) year or thirty-six thousand (36,000) mile
warranty, as well as other standard warranties fully outlined ln
the warranty booklet, delivered at time of sale.
7. Plaintiff has delivered the non-conforming vehicle to an
authorized service and repair facility of the manufacturer on
numerous occasions. After a reasonable number of attempts, the
manufacturer was unable to repair the non-conformities.
8. The first warranty repair attempt is believed to have
occurred on or before November 10, 1994, when the vehicle's
odometer showed 31 miles. On that date, repair attempts were made
to the vehicle's deflector. A true and correct copy of the r~pair
invoice is attached hereto, made a part hereof and marked Exhibit
liB."
9. The second warranty repair attempt is believed to have
occurred on or before February 14, 1995. On that date, the paint
job on the vehicle had streaks in it, and repair attempts were
made. A true and correct copy of the repair invoice is attached
hereto, made a part hereof and marked Exhibi t "C."
10. The third warranty repair attempt is believed to have
occurred on or before August 18, 1995, when the vehicle's odometer
showed 15,148 miles. On that date, the vehicle was brought in due
to a recall notice for the steering column. At this time, the oil
and filter on the vehicle was changed. A true and correct copy of
the repair invoice is attached hereto, made a part hereof and
marked Exhibit "D."
11. The fourth warranty repair attempt is believed to have
occurred on or before October 17, 1995, when the vehicle's
odometer showed 18,908 miles. On that date, repair attempts were
made to the vehicle's defective engine. The truck was making a
cranking type noise while attempting to start the engine, and the
truck would not start. Repair attempts were made to the vehicle's
defective solenoid fuel shutoff valve. A true and correct copy of
the repair invoice is attached hereto, made a part hereof and
vehicle constitute a breach of contractual and statutory
obligations of Defendant" including but not limited to the
following I
a. Express Warranty I
b. Implied warranty Of Merchantabili ty; and
c. Implied Warranty Of Fitness For A Particular
Purpose.
26. The purposes for which Plaintiff purchased this vehicle
incll~de but are not limi ted to their personal, family and
household use.
27. At the time of this purchase and at all times
subsequent thereto,
Plaintiff has
justifiably relied upon
Defendant I S express warranties and implied warranties of fitness
for
a, particular
purpose
and
implied
warranties
of
merchantability.
28. At the time of the purchase and at all times subsequent
thereto,
Defendant was aware Plaintiff was relying upon
Defendant's express and implied warranties, obligations, and
representations with regard to the subject vehicle.
29. Plaintiff has incurred damages as a direct and
proximate result of the breach and failure of Defendant to honor
its exprese and implied warranties.
30. Such damages include, but are not limited to, the
purchase price of the vehicle plus all collateral charges,
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:- __Mo~II~_'1 '" 10 15': ___NOTE JP _"Nr:..V~!l 'U-CrIVl [)'~h'oc:~,y~_c1l('c:.kll~~~I~k:an~ ~!..~'!.l~!Jre FOl'~~
InANt;flll(f~fllf!l)M 11'1/1/0\ IV1N ,
(----4t,P~ 1 Y,:) I S_:,()J ---- ---:-m~f-l-\,x..~~~.LR}S.~~l.LlJ.~"
;~~7r'\!~I~lfMIi rl,',,~::';~I:jH/l\It':J~. IW,II~)~ :,IGNllt;'I( 7 ~.J1Ivlr;' ~ ----. J:, A hIm" JO~IPlCANT~
~~_~~n~~~~~ll -;t~(7"':' ~ ____ ___ :"'~._' __ ~Pd_ C~ Jj
1'", UN'" I~":V ","C1M -. ~ 1'<~.cvH',.;R; CN
"''''I~''~''''~ D OR~J 107 _ '1AI~JD,_ a,9,/ _ OM' lj-J.'lS
-- 1','"m,..A(.IN Mil rClliNTNO
II;Enmy JHATotlMIJN'HJ~.-Tlt(. III\( ";0 - VrAJl!Jitl I")) ('(t Sp~ I ('l.r QQQ')l' ~("\
I ltA"l 1.111 I./(I II IIJ IJI1rH~ \1111I fill VI i:'h I r .1~;ltl~iillllll ^~r: -- __ '~M; _4 \lA\.L'__.__~. ~, :~~~~
l~i~,I}'II IIM"'llIAll( lilljf~.II!AJIIII' I" 1111 1\1111"1 /li1'1"..."r, IN 1~;~;tHNClAtiIN':,".N^"nU TrII"ItUNIiNO
t(!MI'! IA~jl.1 Willi 1111 AI'I'11l AIIII I'fl' "1',11""; II' 1111 VI !IIII ,_ "lllll
"NUIII t'^HIMI III /if 'jUI Alllltl!,
I/WI ACIl.NOWlIUGIi UlAI I/W MAY LOSE MY/UIJlt UPlIlAIINti I'JIIVHtGIISj 011 VlIlICIi HUilS,"AUUNI!iI'UII I III IN lAIN fiNANCIAl H 5 ON' ILllY ON 1111
COHAlN1I.Y;Il~ijI5nRID VUIICU JOlt rilE PUliDO Of I1flil~lll^,rON '/Wf fUllUlfR ACNNOWUUUf 1IIAT II Wi MAY U SIID.nC' 10 A flNI NUr I.llCIIDINO 16,000 "file
IMPflfSONMIN'ro.:Nor MURI fIlAN IWU (11 nAil') rlln ANY fill SI ~HArEMi~J HIAI IIWf MAKI ON "liS fORM. ANOI/WI CI "iffY 'HAl '/WII1AVII.IlAMINID AND SIONID
,1 "" 'OHM MUll I'" COMPU rloN, ANO fI'Af,I' AN tXIMI'IIIlN '"UM l'AV~nNJ OF !IItI.lS 'AJIC IS ClAIMIU.I AM/W~ ARt AumORIllD 10 ClAIM J"'!i IJlCIMPJlON, I/WI
,I ' rlltHJ )o~ >t~ J , ' " I', ,'1J (' jd, 'UllltlEM Clllmy mAl All sl""IM'NTSftIRI1N AIlII'IUIi "NOCORAler ANOMAKI APPLICATION
'.\ ' J'bJ:'!l!Ii.llL........."t',_Mll_ "'-.I!^"-v _, "^"_I t 1- 10/1""""<'''0' "'U:'::(,f"'_VI"'C",~IS~RIl"U'N-.!!~J>
. ... .,- .',1 ,. \ '" '1(,1MIlf3' , INfi 11)\1 f:i,..ltllll/! 1:;1(,101111 r,oflNfR I IUNSF. NUMnfA
'I' ." '" 'l'ry'''N~'.!.~'~'~ --~, -lv '- '< . - PLAINTIFF'S 7'iC
. iit;;"j.~ll'r,'I"'Oln ,P-ubllj; ~Lj! ,"i'.' ,-oil ',Ii,I.m 1M/NIHil III AI"11l IlIllll',lf,NI MOI'II
'i~;~1,r,*~p\c~mb.rlahd Count.;. l '{.:I,~t __ __ _.., , EXHIBIT
'4 f:! ,.,'. ..~:h "IIIHIINI Nil I ~
'~. "vn!' L1
4 ',~. ,,' ,.~~o!~.~,tf':I~'''.'.!'~:I'
.". "TO>' "".."" 'I ", ,'.., ,
III A:,ONFOfl flfl'l. A( [__n.NJ
o I~~~~~Y~U';Y'~~~NT
t I~, , "tl"~~l'~~"'~'
., " to ," ,"""
'to . ~ ~y.lI.. , ' I I_f\
\'1J "'\,': I".,. '," ,t 1 ',j,
.' ,0" I' ~,~ J< "..'..:' ,..... .....11{,{
,", "'''.>i~~l'WX:YJa..':-:;?;.':' 19
1.'..')IJlNO
A(,l NI
"lfIJI/MAIKIN
s
. .~E
GRAY'S AUTO BODY SPE(IALlST
2-1-Gettysburg.plke
Mechllnlcstmrg,-PA-f1055
.(-1H}-19().9111
:r ,J"';
'1J.......'..--"'4 ~ ~
,,^:-~.J
\
....~.,...-,.. ,f.. /
,""':'
,?~d
~""f~J
(.J? I'JI
..,,,..,,,
ESTIMATE OF "EPAIRS
Onlo J ,I, 19 ~r
,,'7
1m, /../."~"' '" .r
I
lke ~J,(I.,.I~.t' 'VeM
I, '
lono.l' ,~. /
"
J... ,....,.-.~^l.Jd'l'5!J--1"~,...~v.....*
."'\:~- ,..r:::.' -..)-..If2)
~ Mndct'..../.1 ~.'" ",. , [
,...."';.J " I
'\ C11V ~~ ..,.~ ~ .4
N"lIlh", JA.'7r~~:1!)/!1JP41("dY S'y'o
.
, , - , o. ^djIJ51~
- -
nl" no. "./11 \ _'h. . -- ll\lJOfIf
po, plllce n " ESTIMATE OF 1ll;I'Alft CO$U; \ PAINr "ArtiS NI:1 ,
111I5 SUDLEr
. "~.-1.Ic\ eJ .Ii.. ~
, ~ (.:.'; _.t.l ;' ~ ,-('J P".'~'." 3-
~ 0
, ~! ...J!,......~" · r;:',..d- ~,'.- ~-' .-'f'.f ("~,..."."........... /. .7
',I ' "'.... ,I. .s-
, ". &-/. ",,fA' .,l., ." ...5!~.4..-. .F. S- ol.
~:'...-J D
I i 0 ,
I
) ~\\ I ' ,
, .!.( . ..~.t ~ ,fo....!.t ..? ,;,,- ,I. c1"'
, I 1,
, ..-( " ,~Jp~.:,' ./3'.~ f .~~" .', S' /.
0
,.. L ;"'. ,.,' .~...w-. ,? 5' J.
~. r ~ "
: I
, .~ ....-:-.? ..,f~/'''''''''"'L.J''' --?
;1~....t,~ v~ .,. '/r-:?............A..... L - -. /.,')5 ..p
, /; ,....\..I.....,.;r.
" "-:''P''.'''' --L _If?_
., " " -
, .
~, - - - - - - -
--;;:?/~ , -
~ /.v",,< /..._~;.....,.,d'"'\. ~,...~,~~ ;(.1- ',,*'JII...;! '. .'.",'~ I ,~." .. ..' fE', ~JJ';'; ~~I,"',r1> -',-
4~~..,,/ " " ,j '. I '. I" .i ,"~\)'i. ~I\ "l/;i l<:':' "', ....... ." .:.'.
"ro;...? --:i?o!A ~.r" "I;",,,~r f~~-'~"~:" , , , ',,,f':'
/,.1,' . -
.....'.. .,:; "
~~ - l-
I " " - . r.. .
1 " , , . "
. ,
I", . ,
. "
"
r' -,....
"
, '
I ,
- --'-
.
" ,
,
, ;
-
I .
, "
I -
'1 ,
,
- -
{ Total \ /S'. ~ f. S' J?'S ",/1)
-
S ESflMATE IS OASEO'ON ou;1INSPECflON AND DOES NOT COVER ADDITIONAL PAnTS .. ..?S.s:
LAuon WltfCH MAV OE AEUUlnr.o AFTER HIE wont< HAS OEf.N SlAnTED AF'E'~ lllE l^OOn~ ,inS fllll S ..
AM. HAS STAnfEO. WORN Oft OAMAO~() '"'AnTS WinCH .-HE NOl EVIDENT ON FlrlST tN. s",i.
'CTlON MAY lie Vlscoveneo' NATUlIAlL y ,tI'S EsrlM" fE CANNOT COVEn SUetl CON. PAINT tins. (II S S ..
GI!NCII!S ,tAftTS PA~CES SUOJECf TO CtfAHOE Wl1"OUT NOllCE. nus ESflM"'E IS
IIMMEUlA lE M:CfP "Net: ; PMl rs ISt~IJI('CIIO Invoh;e) ,
. .' I ..2S"f(' 80
i In thl..... th.. OIlImalO I. ulld "' I work o,d" Ind Ilgntd 10' rAINlIMAlEnlALS ,.",,,, S
eomp""on or work don'"t'lf.crory. the,. will be no ,lCour..' ~7S 11.;
Not Cltpon.lb.. for. theft or wlnd.lllm whll. 0.1 the ...mlltl. SUOLfT ITEMS, ...,,,. S
Thlro will be IImltod'gu""n'" ...lIbor".... duo. . ...... .....In., TOWINO/g rOnAGfE S ,'"
I " /1.1d .K:l
Eftlml" good for 30 d.yt or Plrtt prle.lnc'..... PLAINTIFF'S un TorAl .1" . S
"
X J EXHIBIT iAlESTAX . 71 I~t/
,
Oats,S:omplatlon C t"AN L ."",,,. ,,,-,.,,, '" .." "",,,I., /o/1e Ioy'
n,,,,,,,.... '- -'
"
ll&.:CI\!lU No
Inlu .nce C
Home PhO!!2,.
. "",,""i'
-:.: Wurk PholtQ
I'
,.
(
~
~-
Ii 300 2
6970875
ACCENT FUNDING
GEORGE SULLENBERGER JR
4520 VALLY ROAD
ENOLA PA 17025
IIOME: 697-0875 BUS: 732-7620
*INVOICE*
o
A
AK /MO
PAGE 1
SERVICE ADVISOR:
VIN-
WIIITE
DEL DATE
1B7K'26C1SS1JJ961
PROMISED PO NO.
95 DODG
PIIOD.DATE
r{"CVM
CUMBERLAND VALLEY MOTORS
6714/20 Carlisle Pike ,',
Mochanlcsburg, PA 17066
BMW/Suboru (7171697-9462
Dodge/SholbV (7171 697-9460
3 3 J
LICENSE MILEAGE IN/ OUT
RATE
05NOV94
11,0. OPENED
17: 00 07JUN96
OPTIONS: S'l'K: 16662
RN:4SP_AUTO l)'l'AX
48.00 C II
DLR:OTIIER ENG:5.9L DSI
EXEMPT 121527622 2rNO CSC
1
o :35 07JUN96 1 :14 1JJUN96
!Jl!E OPCODE TECII TYPE HOUIlS LIST
A CUSTOMER S'l'A'l'ES 'l'IIE AUS AND BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AND THERE IS A
SCREECIIING NOISE FROM TilE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA
08191506 SENSOR, ANTI-LOCK DRAKE-Replace (A)
407 J.G.M. LIC#: 8071
WD93 0.30
1 4485165 SENSOR-DRAKE RIl ANTI-LOCK
FC: PART#: COUNT:
CLAIM 'l'YPE:
AUTH CODE:
READY
08191561 Diagnostic Procedure Manual allo~>,ance
436 S.B.L. LIC#: 4270
WD93 0.80
08902701 WIRING HARNESS, ANTI LOCK BRAKES-Test and
replace (A)
407 J.G.M. LIC#: 8071
WD93 0.50
1 56038005 WIRING-RWAL SENSOR JUMPER
05905092 REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS-Replace (TSB
#05-002-96)
407 J.G.M. LIC#: 8071
WD93 1.10
2 4761603 CYLINDER-WHEEL CYL
1 4318080 DRK/FLUID-MOPAR-12 OZ
1 4549623 CLEANER-BRAKE PARTS -13 OZ.
22501511 OIL SEAL, REAR WHEEL BEARING-Replace (B)
407 J.G.M. LIC#: 8071
WD93 0.80
1 3496557 SEAL-RR WIlL BRG OIL
FC: X2 PART!: COUNT:
CLAIM TYPE:
AUTH CODE:
BR13 REPLAC FRONT PADS AND ROTORS
\
Jl1ll1JIB
STATEMENT OF DISCLAIMER
ltw IulolV W.'.l4'1lllWlllllulll ..,
01 ... ...,.'.11111 wi,,, '....." ..
Ihlu" ","'.111m/1lllml. Ttw
50111/ herlb., 'lpI...t., dlu,'.lml ..,
"'",.,.... _lhIt "p"" or
In'I/II". Incluojl.'O In, I,"plled
"'tlI""'ll ,,' "ltlch..,..,blluy Of
"".... 161' . ,..lleUl. ,....<M..
S.II., nellher ......,.. ,.Of
1"",.,1", en., IIN' ~I.on I'
H'''''"' fot II <all., ""dUll In
COI"..Cllo" ,,1111 ".. .... of I"'"
Illr"/III""
I
PLAlNTlFF'8
EXHIBIT
j:'
CUSTOMER COpy
ctJ!t llM(' srGNAfUn
NET
TOTAL
(N/C).
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/Cl
(N/C
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/C)
DISCRIPTION
L.ADOR AMOUNT
PARTS AMOUNT
OAS, O'L. LU8E
BURLET AMOUNT
MISC. CHARGES
TOTAL CHARGES
LESS INsunAN"CE
SAlES TAX
PLEASE PAY
TtflS AMOUN"f
TOTALI
6
'.'. !
''0
.' ,
,- ~
6970875
, 308 Z
ACCENT FUNDING
GEORGE SULLENBERGER JR
4520 VALLY ROAD
ENOLA PA 17025
HOME: 697-0875 BUS: 732-7620
*INVOICE*
COLOR
PAGE 1
SERVICE ADVISOR:
VIN
u
DEL DA TE
PROD, DATE WARR, EXP.
PROMISED
PO NO,
REAOY
, 7: 00 07JUN96
OPTIONS: STK: 16662
RN:4GP_AUTO l)TAX
4 .0
DLR:afHER ENG:5.9L DSI
EXEMPT #21527622 2TNO CSC
07:35 0 9 13J 96
LINE OPCODE TECH TYPE HOURS
A CUSTOMER STATES THE ASS AND BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AND '!'HERE
SCREECHING NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA
08191506 SENSOR, ANTI-LOCK BRAKE-Replace (A)
407 J.G.M. LIC/: 8071
WD93 0.30
1 4485165 SENSOR-BRAKE RR ANTI-LOCK
FC: PAR'r#: COUNT:
ClAIM TYPE:
AUTH CODE:
08191561 Diagnostic Procedure Manual allowance
436 S.B.L. LIC/: 4270
WD93 0.80
08902701 WIRING HARNESS, ANTI LOCK BRAKES-Test and
replace (A)
407 J.G.M. LIC/: 8071
WD93 0.50
1 56038005 WIRING-RWAL SENSOR JUMPER
05905092 REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS-Replace (TSB
105-002-96)
407 J.G.M. LIC/: 8071
WD93 1.10
2 4761603 CYLINDER-WHEEL CYL
1 4318080 BRK/FLUID-MOPAR-12 OZ
1 4549623 CLEANER-BRAKE PARTS -13 OZ.
22501511 OIL SEAL, REAR WHEEL BEARING-Replace (B)
407 J.G.M. LIC/: 8071
WD93 0.80
1 3496557 SEAL-RR WHL BRG OIL
Fe: X2 PART/: COUNT:
CLAIM TYPE:
AlTfH CODE:
3
'J.lll-
STATEMENT 0' DISCLAIMIR
TN 'MI.,'I ".,Int., ._lilUC.. ..,
.1 IN """'lnllel With '.....1 I.
IN .... II INt IItm1lleml, TN
s.n., Mr"" .."",,, ..oIam. Ill'
WI".",I.. eil,.., I."'" or
Im~jed, iMludl"f Wly implied
.....".",., or mlf."lent....II'\I II
PIt"... I. . ,.1I.~. IMJl'IIOH,
!J.eU., AII'I'I<< ..-urn.. nOf
IIlJI"OIln. ."., .IMI .....,,"" '0
...um. 1_ i, ''''1 Neb,'II., In
cO......cllnn ""lIn I.... .1IIt .r IN.
11.,"",,11'1'
PLAINTIFF'S
, EXHIBIT
--.fL_
cu!.rOM(R !lIONAfURI
ri"OIM
CUMBERLAND VALLEY MOTORS
6714/20 CerUal, Plk,
Mechenlclburg, PA 17066
BMW/Subaru 17171 697.9462
Dodge/Shelby 17171 697.9460
LIC~NSE
ML~AG I IOU
RATE
PAYMENT
LIST
IS A
NET
OIlCRI"ION
LABOR AM{\UNT
'ARTS . MOUNT
GAS. OIL, LUll(
SUBLIT AMOUNT
Mise CHARGES
TOTAL CHAROII
US8 INSURANCE
SALES TAX
'UASI PAY
THII AMOUNT
IIIV.DA I
TOTAL
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/C)
(N/Cl
(N/C
(N/Cl
(N/C
TOT ALa
i'
"
~. ~
I
~'O
.,- ~ , ,
to. e,I r,: ~
.l <":
.- :::
~Q (,:- =I.:t
, .
...,.:, IJ. :
~~:. 1:1... I)" ~
l;:.i - ff'\ ~.
,1\ ' .. IX:::> ro
L_\'." '''' l'
{J:t.l, 0- I."'; ~ .... ~
'.JII'[j
f~ .~ l.'ltJ.- ~ '~
"
~ :;; -, ~
-)
0
~~<<:
"
, '
"
",I
commission Warranty ImDroV'ement~', the Pennsylvania Uniform
I
Commercial Code and the !:!Wnsvlvania Unfair Trade Practices and
Consumer Protection Law.
4. During the Pre-trial Conference, Defendant's
counsel expressed Chrysler Corporation's position that this
matter should not proceed to trial, however, should proceed
before an arbitration board based on the maximum amount in
controversy in this case.
5. Although Defendant's counsel perhaps did not
specifically raise the additional issue of uncompleted discovery,
Defendants also respectfully request this Honorable Court remove
this matter from the July, 1998 trial list to permit the parties
additional time to complete discovery as Defendant has several
outstanding issues through discovery which it must resolve prior
to trial to permit a fair day in Court.
6. It is undisputed that the cost of the vehicle in
question did not exceed approximately $29,308.00.
7. It is also undisputed that under any scenario
whereby the Defendants are found liable and a verdict or decision
is returned in favor of the Plaintiff, that the Plaintiff must
return the vehicle if a repurchase is in order and is granted by
the Court. ~, Williamson v. Chrvsler CorDoration, United
States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, May 6,
1997, 173 F.R.D. 131 (E.D. Pa. 1997); Shimskv v. Ford Motor
-2-
Comcanv, 170 F.R.D. 125 (E.D. Fa. 1997) attachl!ld respectively as
Exhibits "A" and "B".
~. A review of the appropria:e automobile dealer's
book regarding fair market values of domestic vehicles r.eveals
that the fair market value or average retail value of the vehicle
in question in this case is approximately $18,200.00. (Please
see the attached excerpt from the Red Book attached and
identified as Defendant's Exhibit "C").
9. In cases such as this, where the Plaintiff is
awarded a repurchase of the vehicl.e, the manufacturer may also
deduct a reasonable allowance for usage of the vehicle which can
equal ten percent (10%) of the vehicle's purchase price or in
this case, approximately $2,900.00. See, Pennsylvania Automobile
Lemon Law as codified at Title 28, ~ 1955.
10. When evaluating damages in this case, the Court
must take the purchase price of the vehicle or $29,308.00 and
deduct the book value as presented above, as well as a reasonable
allowance for usage of the vehicle, which would total $20,100.00,
as the measure of damages. In this case, the amount would total
$8,208.00.
11. Even if the ,Court were to treble the amount of the
maximum award, the same would not exceed the applicable
$25,000;00 arbitration limits.
12. An award could be given to the Plaintiff whereby,
under a breach of warranty claim, Defendant, Chrysler Corporation
-3-
would be required to make the plaintiff whole. The measure of
damages under such a scenario is equal to the difference at the
time and place of acceptance between the value of the goods
accepted and the value they would have been if they had been as
warranted. 13 P. S. ~ 2714 (b) .
13. The case law in Pennsylvania is absolutely
consistent that the only measure of damages for breach of
warranty for the sale of goods is the difference between the
value "as is" and "as warranted." AM PM Franchise Association v.
Atlantic Richfield ComDa~y, 584 A.2d 915, 920 Pa. 1990, Cober v.
Corle, 610 A.2d 1036, 1040-41 (Pa. Super. 1992), K & C. Inc. v.
Westinqhouse fLlectric CorD., 263 A.2d 390, 394 Pa. 1970.
14. The purchase price is not a relevant factor in the
measure of damages under this scenario. Natalie Brothers Towinq
Service. Inc. v. Murrav Ford. Inc., 41 D. & C.3d 224, 226 (1994).
15. Plaintiff's Complaint and central theory is that
the vehicle suffers from a defective transmission and/or engine
which by any stretch and/or measure of damages, even if trebled,
could not exceed the applicable arbitration limits if Chrysler
were required to pay the costs of a new transmission or new
engine for this vehicle under the applicable law.
16. Finally, Defendant has not yet been afforded the
opportu~ity to inspect Plaintiff's truck.
17. In addition, through discovery, Defendant has
asked for each and every repair invoice, and in fact, Plaintiff's
-4-
WII,J.IAMSON v, CllltYS..t:1t COltl', 1:11
1,:11. ..11) 1,11.1), I.U 11'.,1)..... 1"1)
I\l'rul' IIIl'u,l, ir n"lhill~ dst', rnu!,l bt~ dl'c1Ul'l-
SlIu'cy WI....IAMSON ,'<I. 7:\ I'.S.! :!(ll-l..l""1
v.
cllltYS..t:1t COIl1'OItATION,
Civil Ad!"n Nu, 9f>-r~l2I.
lInl,",<I Sllill'H llihlrid Cuur~
KIl. l'..nnHylvllnlo,
MllY Ii, H)'j7.
l'urch....cr of motor vchkl" brought <11-
vcnllty IIcUon undor sll1te lemun IlIw IlIld
alleged that dam"K".s exceeded jurl1<dlcUonw
minimum of $5,000.01. The Dilltrlct Court,
Dalzell, J., hold th"t: (\) murket vwue of
vehicle had t.o be dedocted rrom purchlll;e
price In order t.o ...,ccrtuln amount in "m\.rO-
ve1'1lY; (2) rcllSon"ble "ttomey r""s could nev-
er exceed economic 10"'; "nd (3) h...,ed on
base figure cwculaUon or $6,967, IlIllount in
con\.rOverHY could no~ to " legal ccrollnty,
approach jllrh\dir.th'Jnal minimum.
Di5mlHHed ror lack of HolJject-mot,",r jur-
IIldicUon.
the ACM
rI.' motions
Bradshaw-
'J crant.ed.
rar pretr\al
I. Fedoral Courts e>354, 359
JurlHdicUonal "m'lOnt thllt ploinUrf "lieg-
es in divct8ity action controlK unlcM defen-
dant shOWl! to " lel('o1I certainty that the claim
is inadequate; however, district court is not
bound by complaint', concloMory wleKoUons
IIld mllY look throuRh alleKaUons t.o see ir
plalnUrr hl1M Muppo,,",d them by compewnt
, proor by II preponderance of the evidence,
2. Federal Courts ~:WO,I
Calculation or amount in controversy to
dewnnine wbether jurlsdlctiomu minimum ill
met in diversity ocUon by mot.or vehicle pur-
eha.'\cr under Htalc lemon law requires that
IIIIlrket v"lu(' of vehicle be deducted from
purtha.'H~ price, whr.re value L'i readily a.~cer.
t.a1nable ani I purchlL.'ier would have to Murren-
der car in order t.o get purch..,,, price back
der lemon low; market value or vehicle can
be Ill<ertaincd b....,cl un affidavit or quwified
<!ivi<luoJ wbo clln credibly wHUfy .., t.o vehi-
e's present value, nnd value of vehicle for
Il1lit . joint
the coM01-
mvera is
. cerUllca-
he entry or
. As we nfllNt in IIr:rrrr'l v UU'VNlI" Motor I}l\!
No 9'1--' '\24, III'Hl WI. lK1276, at " n i
3, Fcderlll COUlU e>:13H
In l'ILkulutill~ UJlIl)unl in ('tmtrovl'rny to
dell'nllille whetlll'r jurlH<lIctionlll milllmum L.
met in divl'rfiily lu'U"n hU$ed on molor vl'hi.
ch! lemon law, rewlIInllble attorney ft'Cli cun
not exceed amount th"t ",0101 ,",,",nUwly be
rcclJvcn!d; 1)0 rcu,<\onublt! pernon would Kpcnd
the equivwent "mount to vindlcoW " IlUrely
economic IlJl'~H, llnd there mu~t be some ra.
Uon,,1 reloUonBhlp between amount or eco-
nomic 10"' IlIld expenditures exhausted lty-
ing t.o rl'Coup that 10",
4, .'ederal Courta ~:WO.I
Amount in con\.rOve1'1lY could no~ t.o l1
legal certlllnty, approach jurlodlcUonw mini-
mum for dive1'1llty ...Uon mude under sll1te
motor vehicle lemon low, IlIld thus, court did
not hove subject.m"tter jur\.~lcUon over
clwm, where b..", recovery ftgure of the ve-
hicle, purehaHe price minus murket vwue or
vehicle mlllus deduction ror use of vehicle
prior to fin;t repair, WIL'i $6,967, as even
lrebllng that nl!\lre pursuant t.o sllituw would
increase base to $20,~)()1, and reasonable al-
t.orney reeM would never exceed $29,098. 73
I'.S. ~ 201-1 et seq.
Crulg Thor Kimmel, Blue Bell, I'A, ror
I'lolnUrr.
James W. Stevens, M....hwl, Dennehey,
W urner, Coleman IlIld Goggin, Philudelphll1,
PA. for DcfendanL
MEMORANDUM
DAL"'ELL. District Judge,
We ure here presented with the quesUon
whether we hl1ve diversity jurilldicUon over
the subJect matter or plwnurrs lemon I"w
action.
The pll1inUff, Stacey Williurnson, med thill
lemon law ca..e on July 16, 19!16, alleging that
the damages t.o which she ill enUUcd in this
diveMlity c..,e exceeded lhe then-jurl1<dicUon-
oj mmlmum of $I',o,OOO.O\,' Specifically, WII.
IEUPa May 10. 1996). "Kimmet" Sltvennlln.
P l. aUegu, In every lemon law complaint thai
DEFENDANT'8
I,~,
1:12
1'1:1 n:lllmAL IttlU:S m:('ISIO/llS
IiIHlUilJIl clmtcnds lilllt hl'r bn'lldl tlf Wt~rrHn-
ty chum l~lluul;o; $:l,I,U~tI.HO, whkh, WUh:unSIJII
fLtKUl'K, clJUlcl tit' lrt'hll'll IIndt'r the Pl'tHlsyl-
vanta UnftLir 'l'rll.h. I'ml'li~,'!; lUlll Ct)n~unU'r
I'rowcUol) l.uw, 7:t I'U.SUlt. ~ :lot-\, I't .'11''1.,
lhU!~ exccl'llinK' Uw upplil'uble jUriHIIIl'llllnlLI
minimum. Slit! PI.'t\ MI!tn. or Luw ut f),
We ordcrclt the 11Ilrtll'K to fill' nwml)randu
(If IllW on the iI'iSUI~ of our juri~didioll llVt'r
the I"ubjecl mnlll'r of thb ('n~t', anll WI' hl'ld 11
hcarinK Loduy on t.he ISSUI~,
[II Whilc the Juri,tlkllonlll.unount plain-
urr nl!Cj,{CIi l'outro!:i unlel'>s tlw ddcndanl
KhoWIi "tQ a It'KIlI cl'rtainli' thallhl' chlhn is
Inlldcquute, Ht. PUlIl Mf'm..ry h<<bmwity (,'0,
v. Red Cab Co., am u.s. 211:1, :!llH, r,X S.Cl.
686, 5001 82 L,Ed. Mf) (l~aX), we afC not
bound by the COTnIJlaint'K conclu8ory nllcga-
Uom~, but may took throu~h them to srW if
plllinUff hIlS supported "them by competent
proof .. by 11 preponderance of evidence."
McNutt v. Gf!nCTUJ. MO(I}Y,'i A('ceptanl'e Corp.,
2'J8 U,S. 178, 18~, r,1l S,Ct. 780,781',,80 l"f:d.
1135 (l~36).
A brief recit..atilJn of the undiRputed materi.
at fuct..~ of this Cl\,'ie v.in serve tu explain our
di8posltlon or the JuriHclicUonlll iH8ue. On
April 8, 19~r" Wllli:unHon purch,ulecl 0 l!l'Jr,
Dodge Neon ror $17,20r,.81. Of th" purchll.'c
there i~ more thun \1;0,000 In l:ontru\lt:r!>Y, but
we que~tion hl)w ollen, III lad, th~\t h true,"
Our Court uf Appeab ..hare.. our l:unccrn'
"{T]hcre I~ 1icrlou~ n:u.son to questi!)n whether
Mr. Sll\lennan \llolatt'd the l.:Omlrllirll.'" nf Rule 11
of the Federal Rule.. of o\lil PnKedure by as~ert.
ing that the Ilnlounl in controvt'ny In thl~ cll~e
exceeded $50,000," /It/fat)! \'. Chevrulf!t Motor
tJlV" No. 96~1~40, ..lip op. at 25 n, 9 Ud Cir.
May S, 1997), u/f'R, l/l1terr)! v. ChrVT()/~t MI)lor
VIV., No. 95-5324, 1996 Wl 281276 m,U.PII.
May .10, \9961.
2, The whole..scJlt value of a o,lmilarly equipped
1995 Dodge Neon 10 Ih,.- trade, according to Ihe
National Auto Research Black Book, Wo.$ be.
tween 59.450,00 and 510,450.00, in July of 1996,
Su Affidavit of Matthew Zielke, Chry$ler Arbltra.
h'Jn Manager, at 124, llnd hi-. le!illmony. The
Automobile Red Book Ihts the wholesale value of
Mo" WUltam~()t1\ car al 510,500 1I~ of June .\0,
1996 S~~ Iti Nflnelhele..~, we u~c an cven
lower value becall..e of the need It) remove an
lifter. market alarm syslem (rom thc car al is!\ue,
and replace Us elcclrklll h(xly harne's, Su iJ, at
121.
Our (ourt ul Appcal-. in JlII(ut'l v. Chrvroltl
Motor VIV, NI' '1t!--1,40, slip op at 15 (3d (ir
prk.', hili' paill $:l,lt)() U."i IUI .J\Jl-(lr.I~K'ket
IltlWIlIIllYrlll'l1l, unit nruUlI'I'i! lhl' $lo1,IO(,.Hl
huhUll't-', ^ rt'w U\onlhs Unt'r plJr\'hu..,ln~ the
NI'IJll, Williurmmn elf} Novl'fIlhl'r 1111 IUlJ7 htul
thl~ \'l.I.r rl'pl~ln'll ror lhl! l\l1it of whut wemtd
hp fivt' lirnt'H. WHllunu;110 l'lu..im~ thut Hhe
h'L' to ,Iou.' Incurr,," II li>lJlI ur $Ii,1~1I.00 In
firnUll'l' t'harw'~. S"" PI.'K MI'IlI, Ilf LllW ut r).
'Ii It:.Il.I'.. May 30,
"geH ure b"L>d on I
with 0 rcudlly-....,.
then we m"y clllcol
conndence wh"t U
wl're,"); SubfT fl. (
&78, r.85 n. 7 (3d
heeouHe "plwnUrr n
the mlllluf.ctorer
,"ent of uny d"'"llI
coU)~ on remand,
the amount ~n conl!
Iy, be reduced to ..
vehicle when it ill r'
12) The luntJunt in l'ontruVI!rHY here may
he l'al~ulull'cl uncll!r the aPllroul'h Wl' umk In
Shim..kll v. f'lInl Mlltllr ell, 170 t'.IU1, 125
1I':.1l.1'1l.\!l'J7). B,'c,",,,' the value of WH-
IiLuns1m's l'llr iK n'ulliIy Il."'l'l'rtnlnuhle-
$H,900 2 -unci sine'p, undpr the lemun luw,
WiIliafnKon would hav(~ hlUl to tmrrcndl!r the
car in oreler to ~ct the IlUrchu..~l' price huck,'
It is proper tQ It!.!duct the mw-kcl vatu!.! of the
car In orcl.~r Ul lL'ic!.!rt.ain the urnount in con-
trovcrny In thiH co.,e, Sce Shim.,ky, 170
f'.It.D. at 12r..-27; Hoe aL," Ifrmmt v. f'cnd
Motllr CII., Nil, \lfJ.-4fi.la (t;,D.Po, t'eb. 25,
19U7) (Or<l..r); Ilwml /lilferly v. Chevro~t
Motl/r /Jiv., Nil, 91',... 1 r>lO, sljp 01" at la, 116
F.ad 468 Gld Cir, MllY r" 1!l'J7) (endo..sing
"net economic gain" approach or reducing the
amo\Jnt plaintiffH m"y recover by the "rolr
market, reWI v"lue of the vebic\e turned In
hy the" plllintiffH),' afJ'g, J/ilferly v. CIUlVnJ~t
Aforay Div" No. 9(H~1:M1 1996 WL 287276, at
[3,41 The buse
ill $6,967.01,' IlIld
amoun~ we would
$20,001.03 against
attorney's rces,
would never excee
5, 1\7,205.8\ (lh
18,'100.00 (th. val
(U5e of car prior I
IOc per mile, SH
of Law 0' 5). ".,
Moror 01'01" No, 9
(E.D,Pa. May 30,
CI,. May 5, \9971
metal if noLhlnl
the Imount plaIn
May ~, 11197) yesterday cndUl"!>cd the approach
we took in 1I1/ft'rr)! v ('htVro/~r Motor Viv., No,
95--.5324, 1996 Wl, 287276 (f..D.Pa. May 30,
19116), which we U5e here, or looking to the
affidll\llt of il qualified inJivlduBI who Clln credl.
bly tc!)tlfy os to the pre!ocnt value of the car
plaintiff musl return to the dcfendBnt in order to
reco\ler IInything in a lemon law ca....e, Judic
Nyg~lIrd, writing for a unanimous panel, in 1Ii/.
ferly held that the use of an affida\li( from GM'I
"(liS to mer lL"lIi5tonce managers that the average
retail value In the greatcr Philadelphia area Qf a
1995 Che\lrolet Lumina, with the same features
and mlleagc all the Hilfcrtys' car, I~ $16,350,"
slip np. at IS, was enlirely proper and character-
i;r.cd Kimmel &. Sllverman'~ argument that "II
was impossible to arrive at a fair market retail
value or the cur" all "~ophistical:' III. at 11.
6. To r4:hcanc au
Motor Div., No. ~
(ED.h. May 30
op. lld CI,. Moy
reuonable pef'$l
120,901.03 In I,
and vindicate pi
no reasonable I
'1 f4:el to win 521
L 1540, !ollp op. II
I on ill valuation
~ litiaatlon as $4,l
eel that no rei,.
I almos, $1l,OOO
~ Iou of that am
"l.lOme ntlonal
l.. of .n 4:COnOml
ho..,.d tryInl
.. where. plaintl
,dlltrlct court
"l reuonlble In
n(mtemll quotil
) , Purthermon
W've doubt 01
man', billinl
IIlp Gp, It 211
~mend the
3, "[TJhc manufadllrer shail accept return of
the \lehicle from the purcha~cr and refund to the
purl.:haser Ihe full Pllrcha..e prke, including all
collotcral charge~, lcs~ a reu.snnacblc allowance
fur the purchast'r'!\o u..e or Ihe vehicle," 7.1 Pa.
Slat. ~ 11J'i'l
4. ,"iel' /l,t'Plerllll'l hI ill 1\ 17 & n. ~
\\'II.I.IAMSIIN ,. l'lIftYSI.Elt ('0111'.
U,~..IH tHH 1'1 o.ur. 1'1197)
-,\11';.1>1'11. May :111, H~,Il;) ("WIll'fl' UlI' datil '1'111' n'~'I,rd IH IlJlalllhiY\lllll:' that lh,'
1I~1'~ lir.. Itll....' "I nil llj~.~ tll t:ltlJ!,lbll' prll,..'rly ~IIIlIJllllt in ('IJf\I.r'lJ\'t'n>y in thi:, lIIall.'I' l'IIIIIIIIl
with It n'addY'I\:-I'I'rlalllllhlt, fllllrkl'l Vllhll'. approlu'h tlJl' juri:;.dH'!j'"IUI mlllllllulII,l WI'
lI\1'tl WI' Illay l'lIlt-lIlah' With u hl~h h''o'I'( or ltllW filllllo Il II'Kllll't'rt..ainty that th.. IUlII,llfll
~'l)nlid"llt'" what lhl' J"l'1I.1 welrld dUfllaW':-i 111 l'Illllrll\'I'n;y, I'\'I'/l with Irl'hlillK HIIII 1\'01
1,1,'1'1'1',"); :""dll'r to ('llr1J,~{a ('/1111" ll~l V.ad l->lJflahlf' alttlrr\l'y'R rlll'S, could nlll twrl' rl'lwh
r,7K, ["....h 11 7 c~d Cir.lt~n) (hlJldln~ thut $[.10,1)00,1)1, ^l'<.'I)rllin~ly, we tind tlllit WI'
hl'I'all:,I' "plaltll.1fr IIlll:it rl'lurn the whidl! tlJ bu'k juri:;dkllon uVl'r th,~ SUhjl'l't nmlll'r l)f
tl\l' m;ulllfat'tun'r ill ordl'r tl) rl'l'l'lw pay. t.hi~ t'n:>l',
1I\1'IIt IJf allY darna~"!i awardl'd," lhl' di:itrid
l'ourl, un rl'lIland, rllll~l dl'u'rlllhll' "wlll'tt)l't
till' !H1ll/unt III 1'lInU-IIVI't\y :-;hould, ut'l'tjrdifl~-
ly, 1)1' rl'dUI'l'd III IU'I'IJunt fllr UII' vahJt> of lh"
vl'hkh' \\hl'fllt j:;. rl'tllrrwi!"j,
pocket
106.HI
IlK the
17 had
would
tt she
.00 In
y at 5,
I muy
l(}k in
),12li
Wi!.
,blc--.
luw,
.r the
IIlCk,1
,r thc
I con.
170
Ford
I,2/),
/TO"t
:, 116
1'Slng
~ the
"fair
,d In
'TO"!
,'6, at
t:t, ,II Ttll' ha_"I' liwJrt, fllr thi:-; calculation
i:-- $1i,~H:7,1l1,~ and WI'te we to treble thi:-;
mill/lint, WI' w'luld :--till havt~ a hu.'il' of unly
~O,B01.lJa a~aifl~t which tlJ udd 11 reu.'ionublt.'
attorrll'Y's fl'I'~, I.('~al ft~e:; in this CIL"ie
wOllld nl'\'l't 1':<l'I'l'd $~U,{mH,~,6
5, $17,1m,1I1 Ithl' lJun.:hu'iI' prh:e) Illlnu'i
$11,'100 (1) (Ihe \'OIhH~ ollhe (ar) minus SI,HHOO
[\I~l' of l';H pll!)r I,) fil\t repuir---10,3J8 mill''i 011
IO{ per t1l1k \/',' n I'a Stal, ~ 11)~5; PI.'~ Melli
III Law at ~J A~ .....1. IllJlcJ in I/IIff!rt'l \I, CllI'vn;/t'/
,\lrJfnr /)1\'. /'\11 'is ~ 124, I'N6 WL 28U76, at '1
(E,lJ.l'a Mav 10. I 'Nt)), flfl'd, No. 96--1';40 OJ
tll' Mil'" 1, I'N7), thl' \'lIll1c of thl' car, "for "nap
1Il~'lal If Il'ltl\llll! ~'I'il'," IIltl'it ~ JeJuded lmlll
th~' <Im'Jllllll'l,lllltltt lIlay n'n"'er,
OD~'h
. No
/ 30,
, th,
rtdi.
c.r
cr to
udg'
Iii/.
~M'!o
rage
of.
ure$
10,"
cler-
I"it
ctail
17.
6. rClldlt'.t1~" Ullt hClldln~ inl/llrerty \.I CJ,.'\mdl'/
.\("/,,r /JI\ . SIi ',S 'i 124, !'J')6 WI. 2H727tJ, lit 't,
IE UP.. M,I) '0, I 'NO), tJlf'd, No. 9&.1';40, !>lip
'lP Ill! ell .\1.1', 'i, !'In): We do 1\1)1 hdievl' UIlY
n:"'llliabk [1n~')1I v;'Jldd ever "pend mure thilll
$20,'}(ll 0' ill Il'~~al ke" 10 rel'uvt:r S20,'-mI.O]
lint! villdKak Il') Illht'r irllere'it. We arc certum
no n:il';IHWbk' pl'I''ion wIJlIld pay S2'J,O'J8.98 in
fl'l'~ III Will $20.'ml 01 Set' IIl/ruty, Nl), 96-
!1:,40, 'illp op at 9 od (jr, May 1),19')7) ("UU!led
Oil it'> vulualloll "f 111I' ml l'l.:onomh: Hain of Ihe
IltlllalllJll a~ ~4,07t) HO, Ihe dhtri"t court (IlnduJ-
cd that nl) rca~lJllilhle pcr'ion would ha\iC spent
almlJ\t S I \.000 to vindit:ale 51 purely c(onomic
lo"s of that amount, We agrec-, There mu~t be
'omc ratIonal rel.:lliomhlP hl'tween \he Dmount
of an 1".-(H\l)lIlll I,)'i'i and the expenditurl'~ elt,
hall'itcd I'Vllll/: 10 rClOUp Ihul 1m;,. Indl'ed,
whl're a plallltill ;1l.'hICIIC~ only limited 'Ul,'Cl:'i!l, a
d'~lrill UJllIt "hout.! awald only thllt UnlotUlt
rea~llIli\hk 11\ relation III the re'iult.'i ublainl'd "J
11111l'rllal 'jll<oIitll'JIl rnalk~ llnd ,-itillllln l)tJlllh'd)
f'IJlllwlnl'HI'. ')III ([Jlllt I)f Appeul'i tW'i (U'll
ilraVe douht "II Ihe H'lll(.ity of Kimmel &I Silvn'
lTlilll''i hllllllj1 jlliILllll'\ III/r,.rry. Nil '16 1'i40,
,lip IIp illll I ," (It May'i, 1997) i"lndl'l'd, WI'
UIIlIlJ1t'llll tIll' p;.tll'lll l'lf'lIt III Itw dl~trlll I Illlt 1
n ur
I tht
:.11
!nce
p,
1:1:\
All llpprrlpriatl' (Irdl" fIJIIIJw:-;.
oum:u
ANU NOW, thiM lith day or May, IU~17,
aftl~r It ht'llnut{ in o(l(~n CfJurt thiH nfu'rnooll,
and upon cowiiderllt!on or pll1ifltifrs rnI!Ull'-
rllndurn of law und uJlicJuvit in tiUPI)f)rl of
t1iv~n;,ity juriHcJlction, deft!mlllneH rt~;lplmSI!
thert.'to and accompanying affidavit, anll in
uccorlhlllCL' with the uccompunyin~ Ml'lJllJran-
dum, it L. herehy OItlJEIU:U thllt:
tl) arnve DC 0. reu!>ollllhlc DWl&rtJ of uttllrney~' kc~
lJotwith~tandinR the tolul lad; of a reul hllhlll(
'Y'iICIll und Ildl'qUDtl' rl'cord-kcepiIlK proudun.''i
~ll'llIO"'itrat~d hy (Kimmel) & SilVl'rIlHlIl,"), \t'"
Ill.\O id. ut 24 '''Murc()v~r, we aIM) Ilotl' that
there l'i additional evidl'I1((' in Ihl' retlJrJ Ihlll
ruises scril1u~ quc!llinns ",huUI plaintilfs' tllun-
~e1'o; \lel'ul'lty and conducl throughout Ihc (01111\1'
of thi'i I.:Il~e "); id, ut 21ll n. Ij ("lWll' lI111dudl'
thllt the Jhtrkt l:nurt wu~ murt: thun JU"lIlkd ill
plulln~ hUll' t.:lllll1dcrll.'e IlIlhe veludty of plain-
tiff'i' l'llllll'il'I"I ,'i.'t' \141m, n I O.{\I11' II "1Il~-
Ilnm)
7. Alternillivl'ly, If we nil (!nllll!!h I'lillntilt\ up-
jllOIll'h III vil'w Ihe eCOllUlllk rCllhty 01 the Iran~-
adii)fl herl', !Ill' record I" undisputl'd Ihat wtl.
IH-'n1sun'" tOlal out,of,pot.:kel expl'nditUll' fur the
car i" 011 mO!lt SII.I0104--S3,IOO,QO (down pay-
Illl'nt) plll'i $8,061.04 (accrued fiUllnn~ amI prill-
cipul dlUrgc'i). Wl' note lhul Ihl' a1l10unt uf
III1OlI\I:e charge" has, "in,-'c thc Jatc of the Ilrhilru-
I\lm (lwurd (f-'cbruary 11), hel'n entirely III plain-
Ilffs cfJntrol: <;urf(~nder of the car would Itnrne-
dllllely cut off further acc;nlal of such charges.
Uut e\len if we were to treble the unudJll\led out-
nf.p<lCket fiK\Ir~~, we would hove II th~'nrcticul
ha'iL' of only $3.1,483.12 DHaln"t whith III illM a
rca'inlluhll' altorncy', fc~~. Rcu~jUllahle ultor-
ney's fl'c\ could nut po......lhly rl.'D(h Slfl,"16,g9
where it ut:ceds the base 10"" by 48%; 110 nlllon-
alculllornk tll:lor would tmdcrlUkl' ';l1th a 1001-
i'ih lran!lildiflll .'i"t\UprtJ n_ 1'1; \I't' (1111) Nf/f \l
(;o/t'rIll MfJ/fJr\ ('oW, 16J (-',R D, 47H (E" I'a
IfN'i) It il\ Iherefore \:ll'ilr Ihat tI\I' al1l(HIIlI III
lonlrlJver~y in th~'i \:a...e d.)Cs flot UPfllO;ldl thl'
)urhdll'lillnulminlmllOl eVl'n lllldt'r thl~ (;11 III1Jlt.
Ill'lU"rull'i (anti rcnnlllllilully lInllkel,,) 111t'111II11 01
.akulatillll
1:11
17:1 F1WEltAI. ItIlI.ES DEI'ISllINS
Thb l'll~" I." J)ISMI~SJ-:I) f'rr lad., 'If
~llhJI'I'llllutll'r Jlln"dlditW; Hilt!
:!. 'I'llI' ('It'rk !"hall ('I.f )SE Ihl" I'll:"> .'-Ia
li:--tkaJly.
o flllt"JMtl~'I".ll'"
Laurel MOl;\'ltIlSSY, "1111,,
v,
COMFOItT INN, el Ill.
Civil Acllon No, 91Hmn
Unlll',l :-;~tl.l!~ I>islricl C1lurt,
E.ll.l'ellll'ylvIIlllu.
MllY 7, I!)'J7.
Fl'mulp flJrnwr l!mpll))'l'l':-\ hrlJug-ht Ill'-
tion UKuinst their fonlwr l'rnplll,'l!r (or nlleg'-
l'dly l'rl'ulinK h'lslilt. w',rk l'nvironnll'ut thar-
llCteril.ed by f\l'xual hura.'ismcnt In violation o(
Titlc VII and th" 1"'nllHyll'olliu Ullman Hela.
tlolls AcL On (ormt>r l'rnpluYf.1r'ti m{)thm for
Hummury jUdl(JllOlll. th" IJbtrict Court, II at.
lO:1, .J" held that n1fltion for I'ummary jurlg--
ownt would be (","h'd v.'lth 11'11\'(' to renp',a..'
('JIIII.....inlll'lol-il' of c!iscflvl1ry.
Million clt!nl('d.
J. t'eder,,1 ClvlIl'",,'edure ~25.13,1
rr court del1!rrninN; that ('onven;!on of
motilJn t.o dil"mlss If) onf.' for ~umma.ry jud~-
rnent 11' Ilpprflpriah.', partit':-i rtlll:-t hi' KiVell
notkl' ,,( ~ul'h cnnvl'rl'lon and opportunity to
prp:o:rnt matt.'ril1b In l'upport und f)(lpoRlt!un
tfl conv('rsion. Fed. Hull'l' C;i\',ProC'.Huh..'1'
l~(bJ, o()(c), :!Ii lJ.S.C.A.
2., .'tderal Civill.rocl.'dure (?255a
.:mploYl'r'l' motion (Ilr !;ummary judl{-
nl(mt would l".' lIl'nir'll with l..'IiVt! to renew
(nllnwinl{ clo:-u:o n( di~('nvl~ry, th/Jul{h employ-
('(IS had not fiI(!d affirlnvlt, where thl'Y IcJcnti-
fl(ld inronno.thm thllt hud Yf't to tll' diRl'OV(~r.
cd, anti showed that in(llmllltifJn yet to }w
dil'('IIvf'rf'rl would affect summary judj(ment
III1I! why
OlllWIll'l1
II.S( '.^
dIH'I,vl'ry had fjlJl "n'\'lfH!."I)' I~
h.d_HIIII':_ ('l\'.I'rtll'.HIlII' r)liff),
Wllytl., A. Jo:ly, I\r,'llI",", BIll'"n, Vlllllri
(;"IIIrnh, I'hlllUll.'lphla, PA, (IIr I'lalntiff:-.
,Iflhll :--;, IIllrnf.fll1, Ih,thll'hl'ff1, flA, fllr I
fl'nllarI14'i.
Mf:M/lIIANIJ/I.It ANII O//IIf:1I
IllJ1"l'lJN, lliHtrkl ,Iudl(l'.
Pn'~l!nUy 1mf!)rt. this Court is the Der'!
t1l1nt.'i' Motiml lo I>isrni:;s Ull' I'lnintini
Aml'nrll'd Complaint und for Summary ,Iudg
m('nl ([)ockf'l Nil. fi> u.nll ttw Plaintiff:,'
!'\'Ilm~l" th..rt!lo.
I, IIAC'KWW//NIJ
Tht' plaintiff;.; itl thi:; l'll-'1l', LllUrL'l Mo~yro8
KY lIud Luura E)!iUl, Wt'rl.' hirl'd in I~J:J to
work at thl' l'otTIflJrl Inn Mou'l at :1660
Strt't~t J(oad, Ih'n:-'l1lt'OI, Pennsylvan
Pllllllti!T MIJj.(j'rIJt':;j' wI)rk(!d ut the mold as
dl'l'ik l'1f..rk Ilnd ;j, l'iall':'; repr~s(~nlati\'l', while
plaintiff 1-;j.('l1n work/.'d ll."i a l)()okkeeper:
(Am.Comlll.. at ~~ 17-1~.) !loth of th"He.
pIOYl'l':- wert' Ilndt_'r the SUI)(!rvi:;lon of dcfe
dant Lllu :-;I'rafirlt', lhe mllu:'I':; ~(lnt'ral m
Ilj.('t'r, (fd.) Plaintiff MflK)'roRHY uJl(,~(,H th&
dd('ndant Sl'rafinl' "subj(,l'wd lher) t..o n
mt'rou:; unW('Il'llrnl! lLnd unMllicited commcn
lUul IlcUmlH, includin~ comrncnt.'\ rl'g'.u-d
Ihori wl'll(hl. prel(l1l1ncy, and physicw
(leorance." (hL "t ~ 20.) In addition,
all('~e:; lhat elef('udant Sl'rufinc mnde h
fro'l",'ntly hilI( him, and unjustifiohly denJ'
h,.r II ('hriHtm..., hOllUS. (/,L) Plaintiff E
11I1I'~I'H that df-'ff'ndant Sl'rnfinp tll~hnv('d in
:;irnilllr OI11nnf~r tJlw:mls h('r. (/d. III 121
Shl! claim:; thal durin~ her t!mJlloyml'nt
Ow mOlf,l, the' dt'fl'nclant ){encral man
"suhj(,('lt'cJ Ih'.'rlll) nUrtll'rOUt; unwC'lcome
unHoli('jll~11 ('omnll'nt.'1 ancl Ill'lions, Inclu
('lIrnm(lnl.'i rt'l{a.rdil1j.( (herl flt'n\onal
phYHil'lil uflfll'uru.nl'p, Ilflfl ('onlm't ,-",th rn
hl'l'll or thl' "Jlp'lHitl' S,.x." (loLl In "ddlti
Kht' allt.'J{I'K thllt dd('ndllnt Hl'rnfinr req
tIPr to kil'iH him un lhf' du'('k. arL) B f
JllulnLifT:; mllintuin thut th(lY complained
ddl'ndllnt SI!rafinl"p, tx'huvjor t.o .:iJ
S;lIMHK\' v, FllItIl MO'l'On ('0,
lU.u110 I-.MII, 1.1'\ fLU I'.. 1"'171
morv jlldvrll,,"1 A" 0 r"Mllt, l.hlH ('''''I'I IT IS I-'lIlt'1'lIJo:I( OIWI':HI.;n TIIAT d,'
n.ntl~ thallhi:- Ilrv,1I1111'1l1 Ir; irllpropt'rly l'al~l'c1 fl'lIdafll't\ llIotlOIl for rl'Ur~!llltll'nl 1:-; dl'lIll'd.
In lht' iUi'tafll lllol.iulI for r(IUr){tlll\lmL SO O!tDEIU:n
III it" LJJir.t llr~U1l1I'1l1 III HlJllpOl'1 of II."
l~)('nl Hull' :llj) lIlolion, UTe l'onlt.'wlt\ thnt
nolhill~ ill tht' Flll'lorinK A~rt.'l'lIwlIl prohihlt
l-d B'l'<' frolll faxiu~ itll IUIU"I' or h""lIIl11lllitJll,
anct that rl'll'\'lllll l'll~t' InY.' I)rt)\lidt'~ no IIllHiK
ll) imply a l'll\'I'IJ:11I1 whkh l'ould hllVl' Ilrohih
lli'tl UTC from faxillJ.{ UII udilllltllml ('oilY of
U1l' lIotlt'I' of h'111llnuUtJlI to lIlJl1~ Kllllj{,
lUTe Ml'Il10 at 7-~.) I.lk(l it.'{ nrKI tWI) nrKlI-
"Will:;, liTe dId 111)1 rlLhlt~ UIIK nrK\1I11l'1I1 11IL
rorl~ lhlM Court ill till' underlytul{ liunullury
jUdl{lTIl'lll mol/I)II, ThlK Court lh(!rl!(tlrl~
nnd8 U\:lllhls llrWlIIH'lItlr; improperly rllilit'd
in 0 lIIolltJn ror tl1urK\Ulll.ml, ami t.herl'forl'
should he denied,
In It..ll rourlh nntl linnl argument, UTe;
advol'(lh~~ u pmdlion in IiUIJI)()rt of itA motion
(or re:trK\lI1wnt whh.'h IlcluBlly wn8 heforl'
this Court nn UTC'ti motion (or 8uIlunary
Judgllll'nl. IlTe contend. that It roxed ~J
Hong Kong 011.' not!cl' of wnninnlion in ordL'r
to intiurl' HOl'rl'r'ti linwly recC'ipt o( tlll' no-
U('l'. It!. at K IIt.'C1UlIll? UTe nhw 8L'nt ttll'
noticl' via 1'('J'titil'd mall, UTe c1ain1!~ that tl1l'
rax lIH.'relj' l'XI'I't't1l'd, mlhl'r than violated,
Section Nin('. Id. IlTC rwsed this IIrgu-
ment to this ('I)urt In support o( it..; motion
(or tHHnrnary judgment. IImmif' & Co., 9.ir)
F.Supp. III 711;-17; (!lTC SJ Memo "t 2.'>--
29.) In it':i WHH Opinion. however, this Court
~onRid('rl.'d and rejected this argurnC'nt be-
~aU8e this Court (ound that Section Nine h"
ambiguous, and thus a proper subject (or
~onRideratiol1 :it tlla!. /lonnie &: Co., 94r)
F,Supp. lit 717 -IR As previously slat.-d, "[oj
Loclll Rule :IU) moUon Is not a motion to
reargue iSRucR already considered when a
. party does not like the way the original
motion WI1~ resolved," lloubigant. 014
F,Supp. al 1001. lJecau,e this Court consid-
ered and reject.-d this IIrgument In IJTC'.
IOmmory jlldl(1llent moUon, this Court finds 2, Federal CourU e=>3,10,1
\hat the InHUlnt argument Is not properly
ralsed In . ""col Rule 3U) motion, Accord-
Ingly, this COllrt find. that IITC Is not enU-
tied to r{'ar~\JC' thiR iR8U(',
IYJNC/.1fSION
IT IS m;Rf:IlY OltDt:ItF:D THA1' ploin-
8' motion for reargument 18 denIed.
l:.!li
o {lIlhll/llb" ""IM
James SIIIMSKY
v,
Form Morolt COMPANY,
Civil Action No, OIl--aOO6,
Unit.-d Sll1t.-b District Court,
KI>, Pennsylvonio.
Jon, 9, 1997,
Automobile owner brouJ{ht nction
llJ.{uintlt rnlll1u(uctut(.'r undl'r P1mnliylvanla'K
Ll'l!lon Law. Munu(nclurer UlI)Vl'd to di8~
miss (or luck or 8ubj(~('t matter jurl:ullctlmt.
The DlHtrlcl Court, Dalzell, ,J., held that
nrnount in controverKY was inlmtnclent to
confer Ruhject mnttC'r jurh\(liction.
MOlion to dismiss grunted,
I. Federal CoorU e=>355,I, 359
Although jurisdictional amount In con-
troversy alleged by plointlff control.. unless
derendllnt shows t.o " leg,,1 certainty that
claim is in"dcquat.-, 'ourt i. not bound by
complaint'. conclusory alleglltions, but may
look through them t.o see jr ploinUrr hUH
supported them by compewnt proor by pre-
ponderance of evidence, 28 U.S,C.A. I 13:12.
Amount in controversy In automobile
owner's action against manufacturer under
I'ennsylvunla's Lemon Law was at most $16,.
R04.60 plus att.orney (ees. and thus district
court IlIcked subject mlltt.-r jurisdiction;
owner'g total out.o(-J>ocket expenfleR w('re
$17,101.50, bot owner would have t.o return
automobile, which had value of $11,560 when
OEF.NOANT'.
I..~..
12(j
1111 n:m:ItAI. Itl'LES 11IWISIOl"S
Ul'LJql\ was nlt.d, Hill! lllllti hmll' n~(L1n' enr
dllllln~1' l'llll'ulntillll WHli llllly $.\I~)I.rIO. whkh
l'l)uld lip lrl'hll.'d IUHlt'r 1.1'111011 Lnw. :.!.I.o;
1I,H.C.A.1 \:\:12; 7a I',~. ~ 1~lr,r,
(;Il'ml (;.'rll"f, Pllwl'r & <il'rh,'r, p,( '" MI'
dia, PA, fl)r JlhLinIJ.ff.
11<lllllld S. Yuro, nllhlH ,~ Hl'illy, I'A, J.Iv
IIIJ.{tit.on. N.J, (IIr dl.tt'ndllnt.
Mf:MOUAN/IIIM
DALZEl.l., Dlslri<t ,JUdgl'.
After Ull' Od()ul'r 2:1. IOt.Hi u.rbilrlltilJll of
thlH I~rnl)n Inw CHHl't c1dl'ndullt mlld II de-
rtlllncl (or trio I d,' ,WIlO purHullnl to Local
H.Civ,P. r~t2,7. On Novl'rnlJllr 21;, W!)fj, pri-
or to BellinK thl' fIlntwr ft>r trial, W(I oruered
thl! "artll's to 1iI(' IIJl1fT1orunda "luJdrl'ssinK
Uw Court's JurhlCJiclion QVl'r OJ(' lIuhjt.'t~l mal-
ler In view of thl' nHlrkl'l vahl(' rl',hlt'lion thl.'
nlll'Y.'l>d l!t'ff.'rl hUH ruul'Ied to Jllall1tifr~; ('ar".
Upon c()JH~lclerlltion of till' p:Lrtll':O;' T11l'fIIornn-
da, it hl-'Cllllll' llppart'lIt that it Wll~ nl'l'l'~~ary
to havl' nn ....vidl'ntiary hl'arifl~, whidl Wl'
held <ln Oe<emher 2:1, 19lH),
AM It. result of thl~ acti\!it~., thl..' ddt.'lIdant
takes the position that w.... lack jurisdiction
over the suhject mattA'r. For tht.' rea~onH
that follow, we BKr........,
Plaintiff JameH Shlmsky olleKcH U,at tlll'
damBKeR to whir.h he is entitled in this diver.
t1ity action exceed the jurisdictional mini.
mum, Compllllnt ':1, Specilically, Shim sky
claims that his" Lemon Low domagr. in t.hJ.
situation (withnut any att.orney fees, lillan<e
eharges, and without exemplary damages un-
der the [Pennsylvania Unruir Trade Practlces
and Consumer ProwcUon LllW, 7:1 1'.8.
~ 201-1 .t 8<'1.1) equals the $1ll,:1:!0.00 pur.
chase price or the vehi<le plu, $750.00 in
Hales taxes and $62,00 In dOl'uml'nt and title
fees plus finance charge:;," P1.Mem, at .1th
unnumbered Jlage,
(1 J While the juriHdictional amount Illwn-
tiff alleges control:; unleRS the ddendant
shows "to a legal certainty" that the claim Is
Inadequate, S~ /'"..1 MeTCU'7/lntl.mllity Co.
I, or perhap!l hhllnri(1I1 Intere,t, atlhe tUlle of the
arhitration 011 lktoher H. 1~96, the f'orJ Con
I' Unl ('lib ('0., an:! U.K. :!~;l, ~""''''I, r...... :-;,('L
r)o"'l4\, Wl), Joi~! I.,Ed. k-If, 1I~I:j."'), WI' art' 'lilt
hnllJllllty L111. t'nrnl,LIIIII'1i 1"JHdll~l)r.y ulll'l{u.
!.i'llll', IJUl rna~' I, Ink thrnllvh lllt'lll 1,1) Iit'l' It
I'lallllj(f ha,'i Iillppllrtt'fl "Ult'lIl by t'lllllllt't('llt
proof by II pn'pollfll'fHlll'I' flf t'vidt'llt'l''',
McNlltt I'. CiI'f/I'nJI MfJr"tH A/'t'I'/lfl/~II'" ('ory!.,
2!IH (l,S. 17", 1~:J, r)fj :-i,Ct. 7~11, 7~r,. HI) L.1';d,
11:Jn (lOall); Ht',' u/.w! NI'I:lOII l' /\"f:(.'r, ,Ir,!
F,2tl2SU, 2t~I-!)t) lad eir,lU711.
121 In rt":il)(lll~t' to plalnUfr:-- IlIll'ratIIJl1Ii,
defl'lll!anl Ford Motor COlllpany corrt.'ctly
nales tJUlt Shlltll'iky hu:; mlsilltt.'rpretl!d the
lell10nluw dllmll~Ws I'foviHiofl, which prtlvhl1'8
that "the manufal'tllrl'r shall ar.cl.'Jlt rl.'-
tunl of th(~ vehi-~Il' from HJ(' IlUrdllll'l!r llnd
rdund to Ull' Illlrch:Uil'r till' full purcJw....~e
pric~, includill~ nil collllt('ral chargl..'s. It.'lili a
rensonllhle allowOllll't.' fur UJ(' Jlurrha:H.'r'/i tllle
of the vehicle", i:J Pl1.S~It.Al\n, ~ I!JM,
Thu" a plaintiff Ilk,' Shlr",ky rel'dve, back
hiH plIrchaHl..' prkl', hilt Illllst ~lIrn'ntll'r the
car, Ii dl'duL'lion, aH WI..' Hhall l'how, o( Ii
rl!udily.nH('ert.ainatlll.' vallll',
At the Decemh('r :!a hearinv, thl' partit.>s
KtipulalOd that ShltllHky III fa<\. puid $Ill,
330.00 fllr his I!*lr. Ford Contour, Mod..J GI"
N.T. at;l, TogetllL'r with !'all':> lax, litll' (ee,
and documentary fel', Shirusky'Ii t.otal out-of.
pocket expenditure for lhl' ear was $17,-
151.50, St'l' N,T, at a~1 (Ii:;tin~ CO:it:; tot..allin~
$17,151.50).
At Ute hearin~, Ford':; t'xI'ert ""itncKS,
Ilich,,,,' Woyu,wi<h, lestlOed that plainliff
was unhappy with a "hu1.1.inR noi:;tl" during
acceleration, Mr. Woyto",,;ch con tinned that,
when he road tested the Conwur, there was
indeed a "bUV/ti1.1. type of noIse", N,T. at 46,
at 1500 t.o 2400 r.p.tII. Mr, Woyt<lwi<h al,o
testilied that the problem with the Con lour
would be tixed by re"ladn~ tI\l' engine'/; Ex.
haust On:; Heclrculatillll Vlh"llUlIl Hegulatdr
Solennld ("EVIl"), N.T. at 4H..m Accnrdln~
to him, thl' cost for labt.>r IIlld (lart for the
replacement or till' EVil would Ill' $lr..OO,
N.T. at 52.
AlthouKh Mr, Wlly'nwi<h '",tlli,'d that the
minimum Bllction vuluL' of Ule Hubject car at
aucUon would be $1O,2M.00,' N.T. at (,0, he
conceded that t.hili value WIlN IlR of the No-
lour haJ ?.-IMl mile"ofl ii, NT al ~
SAItKO v, l'ENN-llEL llllmC'J'OItY co,
(III uno f.R.O. 1)7 (E.n..... 19911
vClnl}l~r 2fll 1\)<<,)0 cditll)ll of the N,A.n.A. ItmulIl law, he mUMt liurrl'llcll'r hill cur in
"lUul! Hook" I whieh dOCK nQL relate t..o Ull! ordl'r lo Kl.'l the JlUrChlll!l! price hBCk, it ili
value of till! CW' as or thl.! lime till! complaint prop,,'r to dl.'ducllhl' nmrket VBlu!! o( the car
was nled, numely, Muy 2H, IO'.)(). WIO,out in '1uestlon 08 of Ole dllle of flllnK 10 deter.
objection, Ford Willi grll.I1U'" 1t'IlVt! to ml~ n mine UIl.' amount in cOlllroverKY. The hu.til'
.upplemenll1l ufTIdavit of Mr, Woyt.owkh 1.<1 fil!"re, for thlH colculntlnn, is $l'),I~ll.1iO ($17,-
.et rorUI the valne or 010 CIU' u"ordlnK t.o O,e 1&1.1iO minus $11,&r.o,oo), If we were t.o tre.
"U1ue Book" publhdllltl nearl't1L May 28, lOOt). ble this Rum, we woultt Kull huve 11 blase of
It turn' out that the May 1:1, IO'.)() "\llul' only $111MH~) against which 1.<) udd a ,'eO-
Book" shows that the carls value at Umt time I:wnuhlc Bllorney's fee, To be reasonablc,
wu. $11,6&0,00, Woyt.owlch afro ut , 7. such a ree could not pOH8lbly l'quol six times
It is quite c1eur, and undlspul.<!d by Mr. the market 10'" or double the \rebled
Woyt.owlch'. testimony, that the fll!"re in the amount. S" Neff V. c;"".rul Motors Corp..
"Blue Book" consUtute. 0 mlnlmnm price a 16.1 F,It.ll. 478 (~~,ll.J'u.\!rJ5); lIilferty V.
dealer can expect ut an aucUon t.o the trude Chivrolet Motor Viv., 1!l96 WL 287276
er the car in que.Uon, According t.o hi. (E,D,Pu, Muy 30, 19'J6).'
uncontroverted tesUmony, the prices listed in This record thus lellves no doubt \.hut,
the "Blue Book" are based upon actual trans- taking even the most conservative value,- the
action price. at weekly uucUons that ure amount in controveruy I" tills cuse doc. not
lirnlt.o;? t.o the \rude, ^" such, the "Blue upproach $&0,000,01, and HO we find that
Book prices ure both current and conoerva- defcndunt hllll met its burden or proving t.o a
Uve, the latter In t~e .ense that the prl~e legal certulnty Ulat the amount in con\rover-
repre.ents u deuler 8 WOrHt",.se l'<onomlC 'th ,. bll d bl ttor
. . BY, eV(ln wt we ng on rea80nn e a -
scenano ir he cunnot sell a c.r t.o the public ., f I J t d .m 000 ..
rr hi I t ,,"thl tll d r I t ne,' eeH, eou ( no exoee ",""" . ,.... a
o 5 0 WI n 1 rty ays 0 t..., rc urn. '
N.T, at 22-2:1. re,ult, we find that we hIck junsdlcUon over
the BubJect matter of thIS dlspuw,
Given the undl.Jluted realities of the mar-
ket Mr. Woyt.owlch de8crlbed, we arc rorti-
fled in our view that our R,d Cob-McNutt
enterprl.e in the lemon law context is differ-
ent in kind rrom what it would be in, say, a
clllle involving bodily injury, Clearly, only a
jury can appraise the value or pwn and sur-
fering, IOBa or enjoyment or life, and .imilar
10..e., The record here .hows that, by con-
trast, the murket constantly make. apprais-
als ef 10.. of the .ubject property, and that
.uch appraisal. are readily ascertulnable,
We may therefore safely rely upon tho.e
market-determined value. in discharging our
duty or ...urlng that we have juri.dlction
over the .ubject matter or such suits.
Becau.e the value or Shimsky'. co, Is
readily ascertulnable, and .ince, under the
68 B,CL
are not
y allega-
tA) aee if
Impelcnt
vidence",
'" COfp"
80 L,Ed.
",..., 451
lecation.,
eorrecUy
reled the
I provide.
_ptre-
1&Hr and
purthase
:ea. Ie.. a
.aaer's use
,. t 1955,
lIvea baek
'eDder the
_, or a
he parties
paid $16,-
Model GL,
II, title reo,
otal ou\-or-
wu $17,-
.18 totalling
rt wltne..,
at plalnutr
108" during
tnned that,
t there was
N.T, at 46,
WwIch aIao
lie Contour
q\De'a Ex-
I RellUlator
Aeeordlng
lUt ror the
be $75,00,
led that the
1bjeet cur at
T, at 60, he
of the No-
1. To be r.recise, to reach $50.000,01. the coun~l
fee wou d have 10 be $33,195.51. which Is 5.9.J
times lhe $5,601.50 market loss and 1.98 times
the trebled amount of S 16,80450
3. We say "most corucrvatlvc" bc-cause we huve
made no "reuonablc allowancc" ror the plain,
tiff, "use or the vehlclc" given lhe undisputed
rulh} that he at leut ..'\ or October 23, 1996 had
driven the car 7,S68 miles, Su n, I, Sj,4pra, The
record does not Jlscto!loe the mileage on the car
'.
127
.
o I lIT Ilu...au ,'''"...
I
Shuron K. SAItKO, Plaintlrr,
v,
PENN-DEL DlItt;CTOItv COMPANY,
Defendant.
Civil Action No, 96--4428,
United States District Court,
E. D. Pennsylvunia.
Jan. 22, 1997.
Former employee brought Americans
with lll.ubilitie" Act (ADA) action alleging
l\.'\ of the dale of filing. It seems rnsonablc to
a.uumc !.hat the value of Sill months' use or a
S \'1,15 t car at leWlt equals the finance charges
plaimiff say!; he has incurred, which he renort,
were "appro:ltlmately Sl.ooo" .., of me date his
counsel filed his m.rmorandum on this issue.
P\.Mem. at ~lh unnlJmbcred paie, Presumably,
a., of May 28, 1996, those charies would be h;J.lr
Ihj~ a~!lerted sum
- Z'il'EQId "J:lJ.D.L "''to
. IIII ;~ I~II ~12; !
I. ell' ,; I~II ~I;I ~~~,
.' u" n II~I ~I~~ li~~1
I! ~~~~ 1M ~~I~ ;~~I ;~;: .
.
,&I ~ ~ iii I ~i' 3 . R
I' ~n u nulnn '!). 1 t' i t ~Il
!~3a3c33.SS33 3~~3 1 13Q33.33~33c33.33 33
11 liia31~al!llall!!a 1111111.~lili!I!!II!I!!IIII~i
i I UBY. 5~ ~In ~~~~ I~nld~~ ! ~~ ~~ !~ ~!! ~~.~!
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collateral charges and attorney's fees," Defendant contends and
has done so at the Pre-trial Conference that the amount in
controversy in this case does not exceed the applicable
$25,000,00 arbitration limits for Cumberland County, Defendant
refers the Court to its Motion to strike this matter from the
trial list and/or continue the action which is filed concurrently
with this Pre-trial Memorandum of Law detailing the reasons why
this matter should proceed before an arbitration board and not
before a jury,
Plaintiff's Complaint does detail several alleged
problems and/or complaints with the 1995 Dodge purchased in
Maryland, Plaintiff's counsel in the Pre-trial Memorandum
improperly refers to these alleged repairs and/or problems as
non-conformities which is also disputed by the Defendant,
To the contrary, Defendant contends that the vehicle
has performed appropriately and as expected by the
consumer/Plaintiff in this case, Moreover, the vehicle has been
repaired successfully when brought to subject dealerships for
warranty repairs, It is Defendant's position that no breach of
warranty has occurred and that no damages are appropriate under
the Magnuson-Moss Act, the pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code
and/or the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer
Protection Law,
-2-
II . DAMAGIlS
Defendant emphatically denies that damages exceed the
applicable $25,000,00 arbitration limits in this case, Defendant
has concurrently filed with this Pre-trial M~morandum a Motion to
strike this matter from the trial list as the matter should be
presented to an arbitration board for these reasons, Defendant
refers this Honorable Court to its Motion for a detailed analysis
and its reasoning as to why this matter should proceed before an
arbitration board and not before a jury,
While it is true that under the Pennsylvania Unfair
Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, a jury could find in
favor of the Plaintiff and the Court, upon its discretion, could
treble these damages if such appropriate factors are proven at
trial, the amount in controversy when netted against the value of
the vehicle as returned to Chrysler even after trebling by the
Court would not exceed the applicable $25,000,00 arbitration
limits, It is highly disputed that the Plaintiff will even set
forth or put on any evidence to suggest that the Defendant has
breached any standards or requirements under the Pennsylvania
Unfair Trade t'ractices and Consume!' Protection Law,
III. ~BMENT AS TO PRINCIPAL ISSUES OF LIABILITY AND DAMAGES
Defendant refers this Court to the above statements as
well .s their Motion filed concurrently with this Pre-trial
-3-
3, Doug McKenna of Chrysler Corporation and/or other
Zone Technician who will inspect Plaintiff's
vehicle
4, Defendant reserves the right to call those
witnesses listed by the Plaintiff,
5, Defendant further reserves the right to bring into
evidence cr introduce at trial any other witnesses
who may oe discovered or become available between
the date of this Memorandum and the time for
trial,
VI. EXHIBITS
1, Doug McKenna and/or Zone Technician's report
2, Chrysler's applicable warranty
3, Owner's manual for a 1995 Dodge Ram 250
4, Defendant reserves the right to use as an exhibit
any exhibit listed by the Plaintiff,
5, Defendant further reserves the right to bring into
evidence or introduce at trial any other exhibit
which may be discovered or become applicable
between the date of this Memorandum and the time
for trial,
VII . CURRENT STA'l'US or SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
Plaintiff has made a demand of a repurchase of the
vehicle together with attorney's fees, unfortunately, Plaintiff
has not yet itemized specific attorney's fees or indicated the
amount to be deducted pursuant to usage of the vehicle if a
-5-
repurchase were in order, Defendant awaits the~e calculations
and specific demand from the Plaintiff,
Defendant has no authority to settle this case at this
time, Only after the vehicle is inspected and such calculations
in a more refined demand is submitted by the Plaintiff can
Defendant make a decision as to an evaluation of this case,
VIJ:X. OUTSTANDING ITEMS
Defendant has filed concurrently with this Pre-trial
Memorandum a Motion to strike this matter from the trial list,
Defendant appreciates and requests consideration of that Motion
by this Honorable Court, Moreover, Defendant objects to the
listing of this case for trial as discovery is not yet complete,
Defendant has yet to inspect Plaintiff's vehicle and has been
attempting to do so over the past several weeks,
In addition, Plaintiff's counsel has promised to turn
over Plaintiff's exhibits 7 and 8 as well as other alleged repair
orders and has llQt done so to date. All such repair orders were
requested through discovery and have not ever been produced,
Such inspection and document recover.y may lead to
ultimate settlement negotiations, and it is requested for this
re~son that the matter be removed from the trial list to allow
-6-
.
collateral charges and attorney's fees," Defendant contends and
has done so at the Pre-trial Conference that the amount in
controversy in this case does not exceed the applicable
$25,000,00 arbitration limits for Cumberland County, Defendant
refers the Court to its Motion to strike this matter from the
trial list and/or continue the action which is filed concurrently
with this Pre-trial Memorandum of Law detailing the reasons why
this matter should proceed before an arbitration board and not
before a jury,
Plaintiff's Complaint does detail several alleged
problems and/or complaints with the 1995 Dodge purchased in
Maryland. Plaintiff's counsel in the Pre-trial Memorandum
improperly refers to these alleged repairs and/or problems as
non-conformities which is also disputed by the Defendant.
To the contrary, Defendant contends that the vehicle
has performed appropriately and as expected by the
consumer/Plaintiff in this case, Moreover, the vehicle has been
repaired successfully when brought to subject dealerships for
warranty repairs, It is Defendant's position that no breach of
warranty has occurred and that no damages are appropriate under
the Magnuson-Moss Act, the Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code
and/or the pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer
Protection Law,
-2-
II. DAMAGES
Defendant emphatically denies that damages exceed the
applicable $25,000,00 arbitration limits in this case, Defendant
has concurrently filed with this Pre-trial Memorandum a Motion to
strike this matter from the trial list as the matter should be
presented to an arbitration board for these reasons, Defendant
refers this Honorable Court to its Motion for a detailed analysis
and its reasoning as to why this matter should proceed before an
arbitration board and not before a jury,
While it is true that under the Pennsylvania Unfair
Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, a jury could find in
favor of the Plaintiff and the Court, upon its discretion, could
treble these damages if such appropriate factors are proven at
trial, the amount in controvp.rsy when netted against the value of
the vehicle as returned to Chrysler even after trebling by the
Court would not exceed the applicable $25,000,00 arbitration
limits. It is highly disputed that the plaintiff will even set
forth or put on any evidence to suggest that the Defendant has
breached any standards or requirements under the Pennsylvania
Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law,
III. STATEMENT AS TO PRINCIPAL ISSUES OF LIABILITY ~ DAMAGES
Defendant refers this Court to the above statements as
well as their Motion filed concurrently with this Pre-trial
-3-
repurchase were in order, Defendant awaits these calculations
and specific demand from the Plaintiff,
Defendant has no authority to settle this case at this
time, Only after the vehicle is inspected and such calculations
in a more refined demand is submitted by the Plaintiff can
Defendant make a decision as to an evaluation of this case.
VIII. OUTSTANDING ITEMS
Defendant has filed concurrently with this Pre-trial
Memorandum a Motion ~o strike this matter from the trial list,
Defendant appreciates and requests consideration of that Motion
by this Honorable Court, Moreover, Defendant objects to the
listing.of this case for trial as discovery is not yet complete,
Defendant has yet to inspect Plaintiff's vehicle and has been
attempting to do so over the past several weeks,
In addition, Plaintiff's counsel has promised to turn
over Plaintiff's exhibits 7 and 8 as well as other alleged repair
orders and has DQ1 done so to date, All such repair orders were
requested through discovery and have not ever been produced,
Such inspection and document recovery may lead to
ultimate settlement negotiations, and it is requested for this
reason that the matter be removed from the trial list to allow
-6-
v,
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL LAW
GEORGE SULLENBERGER, JR"
Plaint if f
CHRYSLER CORPORATION,
Defendant
NO, 97-5328
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I."
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DEPENDANT'S. CHR:i'SLER CORPORATION.
MOTION TO STRIKE MATTER FROM THE TRIAL LIST
!
1-'-1
,;'-j
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"
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by;"lInd'('
I)
AND NOW, comes Defendant, Chrysler Corporation,.
,
through the undersigned counsel and respectfully requests" th'at
')
---
this Honorable Court strike the above-captioned matter from the
July 1998 trial list and in support thereof, avers as follows:
1, Plaintiff's counsel filed a Praecipe to place the
above-captioned matter on the July, 1998 civil trial list in the
Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas to proceed with trial,'
2, A Pre-trial Conference was held June 1'7, 1998 in
Judge Oler's chambers with Defendant's counsel participating by
telephonic conference thanks to the gracious permission of Judge
Oler and his willingness to accommodate the parties,
3, This case involves an alleged breach of warranty
and alleged violation of the Maanuson-Moss Federal Trade
'Defendant's counsel acknowledges receipt of a cover letter
from Plaintiff's counsel indicating that three separate Praecipes
were forwarded, including a Praecipe for this matter, however,
has conf.irmed that only two Praecipes were received, excluding
the Praecipe for this case, The undersigned counsel has no
reason to dispute that Mr. Fineman did forward the Praecipe,
however, continues the search to ensure that the Praecipe was
received,
Commission Warranty ImDrovement Act, the PennsYlyania Uniform
Commercial code and the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and
Consumer Protection L~,
4, During the Pre-trial Conference, Defendant's
counsel expressed Chrysler Corporation's position that this
matter should not proceed to trial, however, should proceed
before an arbitration board based on the maximum amount in
controversy in this case,
5, Although Defendant's counsel perhaps did not
specifically raise the additional issue of uncompleted discovery,
Defendants also respectfully request this Honorable Court remove
this matter from the July, 1998 trial list to permit the parties
additional time to complete discovery as DefenGant has several
outstanding j,ssues through discovery which it must resolve prior
to trial to permit a fair day in Court,
6. It is undisputed that the cost of the vehicle in
question did not exceed approximately $29,308,00,
7, It is also undisputed that under any scenario
whereby the Defendants are found liable and a verdict or decision
is returned in favor of the Plaintiff, that the Plaintiff must
return the vehicle if a repurcha.se is in order and is granted by
the Court, ~, Williamson v, Chrvsler Corooration, United
States District Court, 8astern District of Pennsylvania, May 6,
1997, 173 F,R,D. 131 (E,D, Pa, 1997); Shimskv v, Ford Motor
-2-
COmDany, 170 F,R,D, 125 (E,D, Pa, 1997) attached respectively as
Exhibits "A" and "B",
8, A review of the appropriate automobile dealer's
book regarding fair market values of domestic vehicles reveals
that the fair market value or average retail value of the vehicle
in question in this case is approximately $18,200,00, (Please
see the attached excerpt from the Red Book attached and
identified as Defendant's Exhibit nc,,),
9, In cases such as this, where the Plaintiff is
awarded a repurchase of the vehicle, the manufacturer may also
deduct a reasonable allowance for usage of the vehicle which can
equal ten percent (10%) of the vehicle's purchase price or in
this case, approximately $2,900.00, See, Pennsylvania Automobile
Lemon Law as codified at Title 28, ~ 1955,
10, When evaluating damages in this case, the Court
must take the purchase price of the vehicle or $29,308,00 and
deduct the book value as presented above, as well as a reasonable
allowance for usage of the vehicle, which would total $20,100.00,
as the measure of damages. In this case, the amount would total
$8,208,00,
11, Even if the Court were to treble the amount of the
maximum award, the same would not exceed the applicable
$25,000,00 arbitration limits,
12, An award could be given to the Plaintiff whereby,
under a breach of warranty claim, Defendant, Chrysler Corporation
-3-
would be rp.quired to make the Plaintiff whole, The measure of
damages under such a scenario is equal to the difference at the
time and place of acceptance between the value of the goods
accepted and the value they would have b~en if they had been as
warranted, 13 P.S. !l 2714(b),
13, The case law in Pennsylvania is absolutely
consistent that the only measure of damages for breach of
warranty for the sale of goods is the difference between the
value "as is" and "as warranted," AM PM Franchise Association v,
Atlantic Richfield Company, 584 A,2d 915, 920 Pa, 1~90, Cober v,
Corle, 610 A,2d 1036, 1040-41 (Pa, Super, 1992), K & C. Inc, v,
Westinqhouse Electric CorD" 263 A,2d 390, 394 Pa, 1970,
14, The purchase price is not a relevant factor in the
measure of damages under this scenario, Natalie Brothers Towing
Service, Inc, v, Murray Ford, Inc" 41 0, & C,3d 224, 226 (1994),
15, Plaintiff's Complaint and c~ntral theory is that
the vehicle suffers from a defective transmission and/or engine
which by any stretch and/or measure of damages, even if trebled,
could not exceed the applicable arbitration limits if Chrysler
were required to pay the costs of a new transmission or new
engine for this vehicle under the applicable law,
16, Finally, Defendant has not yet been afforded the
opportunity to inspect Plaintiff's truck,
17, In addition, through discovery, Defendant has
asked for each and every repair invoice, and in fact, Plaintiff's
-4-
WII.J.IAMSON v, cllltYSU:1t COIt\', 1:11
..:u. ...In l.lU). u, cr~D.r.- 1"7)
Kemp md.al, Ie nl)UIIIl~ 1'1K.', rTIWill)l.' dl>iIUl.'l.
StllCCY WII.UAMSON "t. 7:l1'.S. ~ :!(1I-1,'l H'"I.
v,
a, Federol Court. ",",:~IK
In ewcull1Un~ lLHI1lunt \n CtmlrOYt!MiY U)
dl!l.A~nllinl! whl.'UI('r juritillidl'IllUl minlnlum 11'
md in divcnlity lleUml hlL'wd on mf)l.ur Yl'hl.
ell! h:mon h\w, rcu.",olUlhh! ullorncy rt'(!t) cun
not ex"",,,) IUnount thnt c<>uld l"I.<!nUlllly be
recovered; nf) rcllH(muhlc pCrH1Jn would spend
tllt! C(lulvalcnt wnllunl tAl vindicate II purely
l'Ct)J1ll1nic lotiM, Ilnd there must be KlJme ra-
Uonol reluUonsblp hctwl",n amount or l"'>-
nomic 10'" IlIld eX\M,nditures exhausted \ty'
ing to rl'Coup that 1080.
4, Federal Courtll ~340,\
Amount In c<Jn\.rOvel'llY c<Juld not, t.o a
lego! ccrWnty, uppronch jurilldicUono! mini.
mum ror dive1'1llty ""Uon made under state
mot.or vehicle lemon law, IlIld thos, c<Jurt did
not have 6ubject-motter jurilldicUon over
clwm, where bllSe I'Cc<lvery figure or the ve-
hicle, purchllSe price minus murket vwue or
vehicle minus deducUon ror UHe or vehicle
prior to nn;l rcpo.ir, wo.'\ $6,007, as even
lrohlinl( that fih'\lre PUl'llUllllt t.o slJ1tute would
incrca.'">c huse t..o $20,9<)1 I and reu.o;onnblc atr
t.orney rees would never exceed $:ro,O'.Jll. 7:\
P,S, ~ 201-1 et seq.
Cl\lt YSUm COIU'OItA'l'ION,
Civil Aetlon No, l/fi-602 I,
lJlliwd Sll1U" \!c.lrkt cou~
KIl. \'eIlIlHylvunlo.
MllY II, tU'J7.
l'urch....er or moU>r vehicle hnlUgbt di-
yersity action unlh~r Klute lemon law and
alleged that dlUlIOl(eH exceeded jur\..<licUonw
minimum or $Ii,OOO,OI. 'l'he Dilltrlct Court,
Dalzell, J., held that: (I) murket vwue or
vehicle hod U> he deduel.<!d rrom purch...,e
price In order t.o ...,cerWn IUnount in contro-
VCJ'1ly; (2) re...,onllhle utt.orney rl'CS could nev-
er exceed economic 1088; and (:1) bused on
hose figure ewculotlon or $Ii,l/fi7, umount In
con\.rOvel'llY coold not, t.o a Io'houl cerWnty,
Ipproacb jurisdlctinnol minimum.
DlHml,"ed for Illl'k or Huhject.mottH jur.
illdicUon.
IIIlIt a joint
the .:o1ll101.
imavera ill
. eert1Iica-
be entry or
\, .'ode...1 CuurtH >l?ar.4, aG9
JurisdicUonw umount tbat ploinUrr Illleg-
es in dlvernity action control" unleHll dcfen.
dllllt shows t.o u lel(111 cerWnty thnt the chllm
~ lnadequate; howl!vcr, disU-ict court is not
bound by complaint's conclu"ory wlegaUoM
IIId muy look throu~h wlegoUons to see if
plalnUrr has Hup[l<lrtod them by competent
proor by II pre[l<lnderllllcc or the evidence.
, 2. Federal Courtll ~340.1
, Cwculntlon or IlIllount In con\.rOve"'j t.o
determine whether jurl"dlcUonw minimum c.
met In dlve1'1llty acUon by mot.or vehicle pur-
chaser under stote lemon law requires that
market value or vehicle be deducted rrom
'purchlllle price, where vwuc ill relldily ""cer.
tainable and purch....er would hnve to surrcn-
"'r car in order to get purchlll\e price bock
der lemon law; murket vwue or vehicle ean
ISCCrWned b....ed on >>.ffidavit or qunlified
, dlviduw who can credibly tesUry L' to vehl-
tie'. prCllent vwue, and value or ',ehiele ror
Crulg Thor Kimmel, Blue Bell, pA, ror
Pl:lIntlrr.
James W. Stevens, Marshall, Dcnnehey,
Wurner, Coleman IlIld G<>ggln, Philadelphia,
P A. ror DerendllllL
the ACM
r.' motiQt\.'\
Bradshaw"
''I granted,
rOl' prebial
MEMORANDUM
DALZELl" Dilltrlct Judge,
We urc here prcaented with the quesUon
whether we have dlve...ity jurlsdicUon over
the subjed mat.ter or plwnUrrs lemon law
action.
The plainUrr, Stacey Williamson, me<! this
lemon Illw clllle on July 15, 1996, alleging thllt
the damages to which .he ill entitled in \hill
dlvernity c...,e excc.,ded the then.JurilldlcUon.
nI minimum or $50,000.01.1 Speclfieally, WiI.
. As WII: nolcd In IIll(trty \I, Chtvrnt" A{f)rOf' DIV,
No, q~-,H24, 1996 WI. 287276, at -, n 1
m.D.'a, May la, 1996), "Klmmtl &: Silverman,
P.C. alleln in every lemon law complaint thai
1:\2
173 n:Ut:ltAI. ItlJU:S ut:CISION:'i
liurmllJll CtmtJ!lllh, lllllt tll'r lJrl.'uch of w"rru.u'
ty cI.illl equolH $:!'I,lrl~.HI), whkh, WiIlIIIIIIHon
tU'KlH!K, couhl be.' lrl!hled u"lh'r uw Pl'nntlyl.
vlUllll lJnfu.lr 'l'nlth' Prul'U('I'K !llltl ClIlJKUIIH'r
Protection Luw, 7:1 Pll.~tUt. ~ ~tll-l, d KI~lr,
lhUB exc~ecUnK thl' llppllcuhll' jurls1lkti1lnal
minimum. Sri' Pl.'" Mpl1I. of Luw ut fl.
Wl'. oruerl.!cl t)1I' pUl'tll'!' to nil' ItttllTlurundl1
1)( law nn lllP i~H'W o( OUf jUr\HtlIl'Uflll OVl'r
the 6uhjccl ml~U,t'r of lhh, l'aM', unci WI~ hd" tL
heurhlK tod.y on the I"ue.
(I) Whl\c th" jurlHdktlolml ulllount plain.
tiCr wh,!K(~li cl)lItrl)l~ unlel>li tIll' tldendlLlIl
tihows "to 11 h.'1{111 l.'f.rtainty" that lh... churn Iii
Inudequntc, SL I'uul Ml!n~u.ry /1I11i'mnilll (,'0.
v. Red Cab Co., :lu:! lJ.S. 2I!:1, Wi, r>!l H.C\..
686, 600, 82 I.. Ed. 81r, (\ ~:IH), we .re not
bound by the l'Omplllinl'K l'OnclU8f)ry lllll~gu+
tions, but may I<.,k thruugh them to see Ir
pluinUrr h.... suppo,,",d "them by competent
proof ." by 11 preponderance of evidence,"
McNutt v. Gcncrul MolJ)rs Acceptance Corp.,
298 U.S, 178, IH~, fJfi H.C\.. 780, 7M, 80 ("t:d,
1136 (1936).
A brier recilJ1tion of th" undl"pul.<!d 1II0l.<!rI-
w roct. of thlH cose will scrve t.o cxplain our
disposition of the juriHdicUonol ISHue. On
April 81 Im.ml Williamson Ilurcha.<:,cd 11 lwr)
Dodge N"un for $17,2W,.HI. Of the purch...,e
there is mure than ~5l),OOO in conlruverbY, bUl
we question huw ollen, III (a!.:t, lllilt is true,"
Our Court o( Appelll.. \hllre~ our concern:
"(TIhere 1\ !lerlou\ rCllson lO question whelher
Mr. Silverman vlulatcd lhe constralnt"i of Rule II
of the Federal Rulc!I of Civil Plocedure by IU5ert-
Inl( ~ha1 the amount In conlroveny In 1hb ca\e
e,,"(eeded \50,000" 11l1(my \I. Chtvroltt Motor
[JIY., No, 96-1540, !lltp op, at 25 11. 9 (3& Cir,
May 5, 1997), IJI1'K, 1I1/(err'j Y. Chevrolet Motor
Div., No. 95-5124, 1996 Wl 231276 ([,D.PII.
May 30, 1996).
1. 'The wholtsale value or 8 similarly equipped
1995 Doose Nt.on to the 1rade, accordlns to Lhe
National Auto Re\carch Black Book. was be.
~wctn $9,450.00 and $10,450.00, in July of 1996.
Set Affidavit of Matthew Zlel~e, Chrysler Arbltra.
1Ion Manaser, at , 24, and his tesUmony. nlc
Automobile Red Book h'ilS the wholesale value of
Ms. Williamson'" car at SI0,500 as of June: 30,
1996. Stt ul Nonethele:...., WI! use an even
lower valut! became or 1ht: nel!d to remov~ an
aft"r.markt:t alllflTl !ly~,tcrn from the car at I~H,UC,
and replace iI.. el(':clrkal body harne55, Su id. at
, 2\.
Our Court of Appeal.. in llil(trty \I Chevmftt
Motor Vw. No 9(')-.11)40, slip op. at 15 Od Ur
pril'''', hill' I'llil] $:~llOO as WI out'(jf.t)Q(~k(!t
ch)wnpaYII\I'nt, utili rll\llJ\l..'I~d the $1",lor~.81
lmhul('I'. A (l!W month:; Ilfl.t!r flur('hWiin~ t.h~
NPIJlll WUllllfTIHOIJ em NClVcrnher tH, 1~J7 had
U1l' l'ar rl'llalrt~d felr till' linil o( what wl)Uld
l}(_' rivp Urnl'l;. WUlhullHlJn clahllli tlHll IIhe
has III IIIlU' Int'llITed Il t.ot.al o( $H,OfU ,O() In
rimuwl' d\l\"'~I'K, Sl'f' 1'l.'K Ml'lll, Ilf Luw ul r"
121 Till' lllllllunl In ('liIlu'IVl'rhY hl!rl' muy
I)I~ cl1kullltJ,tl ufIIlpr the Ul'llrlH1ch we t.ook in
Shim.,ky lI. F,ml M"lor (,'0, 17ll F.lt.Il. 121')
<E.l).I'II.I\~17). IIP,'"uHe the vlllue of WH.
HarnlilJl\'K car I:; n~lld\ly II.",cert.u.1nahtc-
$X,lJ(~ll .-luHI tillll'l.'l under the lemon lawl
WilIilllllson wenllel hUVI! hlulto tmrrcndl'r the
cn.r in ordl'r U) Ret the (Iurchu.'\e price hack,.
it Is ,,"'per to, d"duct the m...ket vwue or the
car In clrfll'r U) llsccrtu.1n lhe amount in con.
troven<y In U,IH Cll..e, See Shim.:lky, 170
F.lt.Il. at l~f;-27; see also I1orl.<m v. ford
Motor Co., No. 9f>-lf>l3 (E.D,!'o. Feb. 25,
1\I'J7) (Onler); IUcoro /lilfmy v. Chevrolet
Molor Iliv., No. 9f,..IMO, sUp op. .t 13, 116
F,:ld 4fk~ Gl<l Clr. M.y 6, 1997) (endo1'1ling
"net economic gain" approuch of reducing the
amount pluintlrrs m.y recover by the "rulr
market, retail vwue or the vehicle turned In
hy the" plaintiff H),' ofJ'g, //iI/my v. Chevrolet
Motor /liv., No. ~r..-m24, 19'.16 WI. 287276, at
May 5. 1997) yc\tcrJay t:lldt)r~eJ 1he IIPllfOIli;h
we took in 1/11(my v. Chtvroltr Molor /)iv., No.
9~.1124, 1996 Wl 2.7276 IE.D.Pa. Mar 30,
11)1)6), which wt: u~e here, of looking 10 the
afndavit of a quaHfied Individual who (~an credi.
bly te!)tify a~ to tlle present value of the car
plaintiff mus1 return to the defendant In order 10
rc!.:ovcr anything In a lemon law case. Judse
Nygaurd, writlns for a unllnlrnous panel, in llii.
(aty held thai the ust: of 8n affidavit from GM',
"c;usttlmer a...shtance manage" 1hot 1he averase
relail value In the Irea11!r Philadelphia arca of ·
1995 Chevrolet Lumina, with the same futures
and mileage a."i thl! lUlfert)'" cal., Is SI6,350/'
slip op. a' 15, W!U entirety proper and character.
Iled Kimmel &I Silverman's arsumcnt that "it
was Impossible to arrive a1 a fair market retail
value of tilt: car" as "wphbtlcal," id. at 17.
3. "lTlhe manufacturer shall. . accept return or
tht: vehide from 1hl! purchuer and rclund to the
purchaser 1he fult purcha5c pike, Including all
collateral chargts, Ius a reawnable allowance
fol' the purtha\er's u\e of lhe vehicle," 73 P..
StA1. ~ 19~5.
4, .litt Kmtra/l'j ,J at 13-11 &I n. I)
'6 (t:.Il.l'.. May 311
_Kl'H >>.n! bllM.>d on
with a readlly-...'lC>
then we may caleu
conndenr.'t! whIt l
WCrt!,")i SubtT \I.
~78, r,sr) n. 7 (ac
bcc.uHe "plaintiff I
the mDJlurudurcr
ment of any durna
court, on remand,
the amount in conI
Iy, be rc<luced to ·
..hlcle when it III I
13,4) The bas.
is $6,007,01,' an'
amoun~ we waul,
$20,901.03 against
attorney's rccs,
would ncvp,r exec<
5, 517,201.BI tl
$&,'100.00 Ithe v.
(use of car poor
IOC per mile, sa
01 \..aw0l5). ,.,.
Molor DiY., No. '
IE. D.P. May 31
CI,. M'r 5, 1997
metal if nothtn.
the amount plBIr
6. To rehcane 0
Motor Div., No.
(E.D.P.. May 3
op.OJ.Cir, Ma
reasonable per
$20,901.03 In
and vindicate I
no reasonable
, feclto win S:
i 1540, ,lip op. ,
l 011 Its valuatlo
~ litlaation as $"
'; eel that no rei
..'- almosl $1l,OC
1 10&0 01 that .,
:.,101ne ntlQnal
L,of an econor
Musled uylr
1 whcre . p'ah'
~dI.trict cour1
.1 nllOn.ble 'r
n~lntema1 quo
, Punhcrmo
~.. doubt
...... hillin,
.lIp"". at 21
!:ooune nd tf
,
nl......IH ..ltU
'Ii (l';,IJ,l'll. Mny :lil, Hr,JH) ("Whl'n' UII' IlwlI
U~I'~ llrl' 1m......" 0tJ Illh~, to laJl.~lbh' pl'lllwrty
with II rl'luIlIYIl:il'l'rtainuhll' tllurkl'l vl~hJl',
UIl'II WI' lIIay t'llklllatl' wilh II hl~h It'y('1 1)(
l,'llllndl'fll'l' what thl' n'ILJ wlJrltl Itl111HlW'li
wl'n'."); ."ifllwr I' ('hry,'ll,'r t.'fJf7'" 10,1 Val!
['7H, (>>00,.,[, II. 7 ell! ('ir, It1.fl) (hl)ldinv: thal
1~'I.'IUJ:'1' "plaintiff lrlll:it rl'luMl UIL' vl'hkll' to
llll' IIIIUlIJrlll.'lurl'r in qrdl'r lA) n~celVl.' Jlay.
nWllt ..r llll)' da/lla~I's awnrtlt'd/' lhl! dhitrkt
t:l/urt, 1J/l n'/Ilulld, 1II11:il dl'lA.'Mnine "whl!thl'f
tl\l' 1I111ollnt ill j'IJllll'I/Vl'h;y should, Ilccllnllny:.
Iy, 1)1' rt'dlll'l'd tn !l{'I.'IJlUll (IIr 111L' vulu!! C)( Uw
','('hkll' wl]l'n it i:; rPlurnf'd"),
(:1,.1 I Till' hll...." , tiw.1re (or this cwculutiotl
b $li,!.Hi'l.Ol,6 IlIId Wl'fe we to trl'hll! t.hl:~
Umqlmt, WI' wlJuld :;lill have a huse O( only
$,:!O,UtJ 1 ,0:1 Hj.{aifl:.t which lA) add 0. 1"ClL.'1oJlable
utllJfrH'y's (l'f'S. Lt'g'ul fees in thlH CfLHC
woulll nl'\'I'f ('xCI'I'd $~J,OW{,98,'
5, S 17 ,20'i8 I Ilht: pur..:ha~e price) minus
S8,9l)0 O<l (lb... value or the car) minus S1.338.00
(UH' l}f (ilr prior tll nr\t rcpllir-IO,lJ8 milc:s al
It)( 1'M.'lllllk \1'(' 11 IJaStut. ~ 1955; 1'1'5 Mem.
uf !.IIW III 5) A~ wc llllted In Ililr~rty v. C'ltvt1J/l't
hlo(or 111\", Nil, lj'j -'iU4, 1996 WL 287216, 111 '2
(ED.l'a May ]0, (996), a/fd, Nn. 96-1540 Od
lIr May'i, I 'J'J7), thc value o( lhe Color, "(or scrap
llH'1lI1 if Ilolhillll clw," mmt be deducted (rom
tl., 11lJl<!11I11 pl.lintlft Illay recOVer.
6, I'll 11:111',11 ",.' 11111 holdinH in Ihtrary v. C11('\,'nJlt'l
.\10)('" /In , NIl 'I~ 'i \24, jtN6 WI. 287276, at -(,
C1:t> 1'.. r-oby II), 1-1')6), aiI'll, No. 96-1'i40, .~ltp
op (hi (II M.IY 'i, 1')'17): We du not bdicve ally
n.'[l\orwhk' Pt'l\llU wOllld eV!:r spend more Ihull
UO,liUlln in Il'H;11 fc.'l'!i to recovler S20,901.0.1
an.! "in.!t..lItt' Ill) IItla', Illlerc~t. We are certuin
nl} rt:Il\'lllable 1'1.'l\on would PIlY $29,098.98 in
kt'\ to Will S2U,'j()1,0.1 .~t', Wlr"ty, No. 96-
1'i40, \ltp op atl} Od elr. May 5,1997) ("U.Ised
011 m \'allaatt'lIl of Ihe nel econumk gain of tl1l.'
Ittlgatl\J11 a.. ~4,070HO. Ihe dhlr\c\ COUI1 condwl.
cd fhal n'l rcu\tl/luhle penon would hll\'': spenl
_llno\1 SIJ,OOI) 10 vindicllt( . purel)' economic
lo~~ of Ihut anHlunl. We aKree. 'nlere mUlit be
SOllie rllllflllul rclatiomhlp between lhe amount
(If an c(ooomic hl~!\ and I.he upc:nditul'1:s u.
hau\ted trylll~ to re(()up that 1055. Indeed,
where a plaintifr ad,ieve!\ only limited success, a
di\lrkt COUll \hould award only thllt amount
ru.\onahlc in rclatlOn to the re!\ullA obtained,")
/internal Cjllotall'lIl mark\ and citation omitted)
,"urthf'rnlflll" '!Ilr Cnurt of Appeals hu ca.\t
gra\'l' dtlllbt on 1111.' "craelty of Kimmel & SII\'er.
Iflan\ bllllnll, plurtiLe"l, IlItr~rty, Nt). 96-.1540,
,Iip op, at 21 nd [ir May 5, 19')7) ("Indeed, WI'
comll\end the pUlknt dfon of the district court
...,.,
I II t' U I'.. I",.
'1'111' n,'(IInl il. umunhiK\IlIW, that It.I'
IUllrllwl in COlllr"1JVl'l'1iY ill thb flllIllA'f rUflfJllt
npprou.dl U\I' jllrbdil'lilJllIlI rninimlJlII.1 WI'
UlIJ:i firlllu. 11 h'~ull'l'rtalllty Ull.At Uw IUllflllnt
III ('olll.r1)VI'rny, (~Vl'n with lrl'hlilJ.~ nrllt n'n
IirJ/llllJll' uttJlMwy't; (1~I'K, l'lJuld f1llt lu'n' rl'lu'h
:f,!'~),f)l)().I)l, Ac~')nJinIf,IYI WI' rtlJll that WI'
lael~ jUri:,dkllon OVf'r thl' tillhjl~('t 1Il1111.l'f or
lhi:; CIL<;l',
All IIflJlftJpriab' Ofdl'f rl,ll"wl',
()f/JJf:11
AN 1l NOW, this lith ll"y IIr May, lUU7,
nftt'f 1\ hl'winK in open Court this urLCMlO()II,
IInd UpfJll considerution uf plainUrrH UlI!nJ',.
rluulurn flf luw lI.nd affidavit In tiUl'r)f)rt IIr
diven:.:ity juriHdiction, defl'rHhmt't; fPspOnSt'
lht'rclo o.nd IlccompWlyinJt o.J'lidavitJ IUld In
uccordancc wilh the accompanyinK Memoran-
dUlll, it b herehy OIt1lt:Jlt:ll that:
10 o.nive at a reasonable award o( atlllmey!)' fc:c\
nlJtwltl,!tlandlng the total lad of I real billing
~y~tem ant! IIIdequatc record.kcl'ping prucedurc\
dCn\omtruled by [Kimmel] & SlIvcnllan"); ltt
at.m id. Ilt 24 ("Morellver, we aiM) ntHe that
Ihere I!) additional evidence In thc reco::d lhat
rai~<:~ serious questions abuut plail\tiff\' coun.
~d'5 verudly and conduct throughoutlhe cou,~t:
of thi'i case,"); id. at 25 n. t} ("[WJe ((lIIc1udc
that the di!ltrlcl COllrt wU.\ morl.' than justified ill
pl.u:inE little confidc.'ncc in lhl' vnudty or plalll'
tilh' l'OUlI\CI.") Su \lIp'rl 11 I (Rull' II !)IUH'
linll\)
7, Altl'rllutively, Ir WI.' cui ttuuugh plaintilf\ up.
pruuch 1.0 view thc economic rl'a!it)' of the trom.
ad!lJ/1 here. the record i!l undi!llllJled thai Wil.
llarmon's total out.of.pockct l.!xpendilurc for the
o;ar Is 01. most $11,161.04-S3,IOO,OO (down pay.
tlll'nt) plus S8.061.04 (ocl.:lucd finalll"c and prin.
ciplll churgc.~). We note thut the amount or
rinancc chargc\ ha~. !\hl(C the dalc of the arbitra.
lion award (February II), lx'en entircly in plain.
till's control: surrender of the car .....ould imme.
Jlatdy cut ofT further IIIccrual Ilf such charge~
nut eVlen I( we wc:re to trcblle the unadJu!itcd out.
of.pocket figure,", We would have a theoretical
base o( only $33,483.12 ,galnst which to add I
r('asonable attorney's (ce!\. Rell...onable attor.
ney's ft'es could nol por....ibly reach S16,'5lb.89
where it ellceeds the ba~ 105"1 by 48%; no ration-
al economic i\ctor would undertake such a fool.
hh trall!\actlon. SU .supra n, 6; .~u atw Nt{f v
C;mtral Mo(or,~ Corp" 163 F.R,[), -478 (E[)PIl
199'5) It Is therefore dear that Ihe amount in
(ontroveny In this ca~ dOIe!\ 111)( apprcHI<..:h the
juri.~dicllonal m'nimum e\'en undcr thi.. far more
generous (and economically unlikely) method of
cakulallon.
12li
171) t'J-:m:H^J. I\III.ES 1lJ-:('ISIONS
n~'Ul)11 Willi nll'll, IIlld tJ1WI 1Ii\:'" fi~;lln' rlJJ'
cllUllll~t' l'nll~uII\U<)1l Will; 01111' VI,I;<<)I,r.o, wtlkll
(-'ould Ill' lrl'l,!t'tl undt'r 1.1'11I111I Law, ~h
lJ.:-\.C.A. ~ Jaa~i 7:1 P.:-\. ~ W[.f,.
UIl11U1 (;I.'l'h..,I', PlIwl'r & tip,.))I'r, P,c., Mil
<1111, I'A, r"r plulntlrr.
Honald ~. YUl'lI, Dollls l~ HI.llly, }I,A., Liv-
iJlKlitJm, N.J. (or cldl'lulunl.
Mf:MOUAN/II/M
IlAL7.J-:LL, lJlHtrlct Judge,
MI.<!r UlC October 2.1, IU'Jtl arbltratlun or
t111H lemon IllW CWK\ ddl.'ndanl filed n de.
mund (or trial ri,' 'WIX) purlmanl to Local
It.Clv,l'. 0:1,2,7. On Novembcr 21), I!l'Jtl, pri-
or w setting tht! malleI' for trial, We ontered
the (lllrtic6 to file memoranda "odtlr(,HRln~
tile Court's JuriRdicl10n over UU~ suhject mat-
ter in view of Ule market value reduction Ule
ullt'g-t'd defect ha.<; cau:wd ltl plainUrrs car",
Upon congidl'raUon of Uw "artit's' ITll'tIIOrnn.
da, It bl'canw Bl'parentthat It Wl1~ 11l'\'l'f):mr,y
to have an evidentiary hl'arill~~, whil'h Wl'
held on Decemher 2:1, HJ\~;,
A" a result or this activity, the dcrendant
lJ1ke, tilC poslUon UlIlt we lack juri,dlcUon
over Ole subject mat~r. For Uw reasons
timl (ollow, we a~'r('l'.
PI:untlrr Jam"s Shlmsky IIIl<'v,eH tllIll UI<'
damages to whl~h he is ('ntltll'd in this diver.
slty acUon exceed the jurlsdlcUonal mini-
mum, Complolnt 13. Specifically, Shim sky
claims that his "Lemon Law damagcs In this
situaUon (without any att.omey rees, finance
charges, and without exemplary dam'ges un-
der the [Penll8ylvania Unrolr Trade PracUces
and Consumer ProtecUon Law, 73 I',S.
~ 201-1 .1 s.q.)) equals U10 $16,:130.00 pur-
chase price or the vehicle plus $759.00 In
sales taxes and $f32.50 In <!ocument and title
rees plus finance charv,es," PI.Mem. at 4Ul
unnumbered page.
[t J While the jurisdlcUonal amount ploln-
urr slleges con\tols unle" the defendant
shows "t.o a legal certainty" that the claim Is
Inadeqoate, S~ I'aul Mercury Inde",nity CO.
I. Of perhaps historical inlC!rtsl. at tht lirnt or Ult
arbllralilln on Ot:lober 2.1. 1996. lhe! Ford Con.
"- Ill'" CI/IJ ('1/" aila 1/.:-1. ~!h:~, v..1.i, r.."" H.CL
r"loiIl, rl:~O, k~ I..Ed. H-Ifl (Wa'''j, WI' art' 1J1lt
l"JUlld lJy till' l'llIIIIJlaint'" l'l)lll'iu:'IIr,y lllh.'v,a-
UOIlIi, bUl lIIa>' II)l)h lhrIHI~~h UII'1II to Hi't.' It
plalnlJtf ha.'t llUppIJrtf.'d "tJWIII h)' l'ompt'u"flt
IJrl)I)( hy Ii Pfl'IMHlth,rtLllCl' o( cvidt!t\('ell,
M,","lutt tI. G,'u,'nrl Mlltm'li A"I'I'lJtm/l'" ('ory!.,
29H U.S, 17H, IH\!, r..; KCt. 7hil, 7W" hI) I..Ed.
llar) OU:lI\); tff',' 11/,0;0 NI'i,'ffltl 1', I\",'/i'f, 4M
F,2d 2I>\!, 2l,1-(~; (ad Clr.1\I7IJ.
12] In feliIMm~L' U) plaintifrli 1I11egatiol\s,
ddl'ndant Ford Motor COflllJl\IIY ~orre('Uy
notes UIlIt. Shhnsky hali mi!'lnwrprt'tcd till'
lemon law damages proviHion, which pfovidcs
Umt "t.hl' manu(acturcr f1hall accepl fe-
turn or tJl(' vehlcll' from Oil' IlIJrchasl'r and
reCund to U\(~ Jll1rdlll~l'r Ow (ull pl1fcha.'ic
price. '"dueling 011 ('olJatf~ral dJar~('s, less a
fl'll::lOnnhle a.1I0WllIICl' (or OJ(' (H1rChnRCr'B Use
or the vehicle", 7:l I'Il.St.at.Ann. ~ 19r>5.
TI1US, a plalntirr Ilk" Shl'lISky recoives back
his purchusc pnce, Inti must liurrrndl'r OJ('
car, a dl'ductloJl. It:-; WP "hall lihl)w, of a
readlly-nl'cl'rtainahlt' vahw.
At t.he J}t'('l'mhl'f :!:l hl'arinv, llH' Il:irti('s
,Upulated Ulol ShirnHky In fact paid $16,-
3:10.00 ror hiH 1\1% Ford Conluur, Model GL,
N.T. at:t. TOJ{clhl'r with tmlt'::' tax, title (ee,
Bnd doculJlcllloiry fCl', HhimRky't; tJ)t..al out-of.
pocket expenditure (Of the ca.r was $17"
151.00, He,' N.T. at a-I cljRtinv, co,t" tow,lIlnv,
$17,101.50).
At Ow hearing, Ford'/i l'xprrl witneAs,
Richard WOYlllwkh, I.<!,Ufied UIOt plaintiff
was unhappy with a "lJu7.zlng noisc" during
acceleration. Mr. Woytow\ch confinned thal,
when he road wswd the Contour, there was
indeed a 'bUZ1/Ul.z type or noise", N.T, at 46,
at IliOO t.o 2400 r,p.rn. Mr, Woytowich alBo
tesUfied that the problem with tile Contour
would be fll<ed by replacing the engine's Ex.
haust Gas Re~irculntion Vacuum H.cgulator
Solenoid ("f:VIt"), N.T, at 41\-.19. Ae<ordlng
to him, tJw t'o!\l (or labor and part for the
replacemenl or the EVil would be $75.00,
N.T, at 52.
Although Mr. Woytowich w,tlfied that U,e
minimum aucUon value or UIO subject cor at
aucUon would be $1O,U,O.OO,' N,T. at (,0, he
t'ont'eded that thili value was as o( 0,(' No-
lour had 7.~68 milc5 nn il. N,T. al 5
SAItKO v, l'ENN-Dt:1- Illltt:C'I'OItY co,
l'I~ul70 r.IlD, &11 (E.n.... ''''1
vembcr 2f), 1990 edition or tilt! N.A.n,A. hmltJO IBW, hl' mul'tl Hurrendl'r hl~ Cllr in
flU!ue Book", which dOCR not rclnlc to Uw order ll) Kl!l the IJUrchotlt' price hack, it hI,
value of the car WI of Ule Umc Ule complaint proper to deduct UIL' mllrkl!L YBlut! or t.he cllr
wa' filed. namely, May :!ii, 1\l'J(). WiU,'lUt in 'loesUon .. or U,e date of filing w deter-
objection. J.'ord WllS grnlll.A.~d lcuNe to fill' Il minI.' till' lUlu)Unl in ~{mtr()Yl'rHY. The base
IUPI,lemental affidavit of Mr. Woywwich to figure, for U,I, <1I1<lllation. IH $5,IIO\.UO ($17,-
",I forth the value of U,e cur according to tile 151.60 millllH $11,MO.oo). If we w"re to lte.
"D1ue Book" publlshl'<l neurest May 28. 1900. ble this IUIII, we would sUII have a basc or
II turns out Ulat UIO May la, IWlI "llIue only $1U,l101.60 aguillst which t.o udd a rea.
nook" Bhows that Ule car's value at UlBl time aonu.blc attorneys fee. Tu bl! reasonable,
w.. $11,660,00, WOy1.ow!ch arr, at' 7, su<h a ree could not pOHHibly l'quul six times
It ill quite dear, and undisputed by Mr, the market 10'" or doublc thc trebled
Woyt.owich's te.timony, thut the figore in the amount. Ste Neff v. GefumU Motors Corp.,
"Blue Book" consUtutes a minimum price a 16.1 F,IUl. 478 (Kll.l'a.I995); llilfmy v.
dealer ean expect at an aur.tion t.o the trade Chnrol.et Motor Viv., 1900 WI- 287276
of the eur in que.Uon, Aecordlng to hi. (E,D.r.. May 30, 1996),'
un,ontrovert.ed te.Umony, the price. listed In This record UIU. leave. no doubt that,
the "Blu. Book" urc b..ed upon actowltans- taking even the mo.t conservaUvc value,' the
IcUon price! at weekly auction. that ure amount In conltoversy In thI. c..c docs not
1lmIu;:t to the trade. AA .uch, the "Blue approuch $50,000.01. und '0 we find that
Book prlc.. ur. both corrent and con.erva- d.r.ndant has met Ill! burden or proving t.o a
\.lve, the latter in the .en.e that U,e price legal certulnty thai the amount In controver-
repre..nta a dealer'. wor.k..e e<onomlc 'y, .ven with trebling and re..onabl. att.or-
occna,'io If he cannot sell a car to the public y' r II t d un 000 ,.
ne s Cl'5, COil ( nf) excee Cl<1V1 . ^-'!o a
orr hi. lot wiU,in thirty days or i~, return. It ~ d th t I k' 'dl ti
NT t 22-2.1 rcsu ,Wl) IIn a we ac JunR c on over
. ,a ' the sllhject matter or thl. dispul.<!.
Given Ole undisputed reallUes of Uw mar-
kct Mr. Woyt.owich described, we arc rorU.
fied in our view that our Rcd Cab-McNutt
enterprise in the lemon law context ill dlfrer-
ent in kind rrom what it would be in, .ay, a
,... involving bodily injury. Clearly, only a
jory eun apprw.e the value or Ilain and .ur-
rerlng, 10.. or .I\loyment or life, .nd .imllar
10...., The record here .hows that, by con-
tr..t, the murkct constantly make. apprw.-
aI. or 10.. or the .ubje<t property, and that
lueh apprai.al. are r.adily ..certulnabl.,
We may ther.rore ..rely rely upon thoee
mark.t-determlned value. in di.churglng our
duty or as.urlng that w. have jorlsdie\.lon
ov.r the .ubject matter or 8ueh .ulll!,
B.caUllc the value or Shlm.ky'1 ear i.
readily ascertulnable. and .inee. under the
Il8 8,C~
are not
y a1lella.
to_If
IltIJIClent
vidence",
....Corp.,
80 L.Ed,
11/,." 451
Ieptions,
correc:tly
reted the
,provides
oecept rc-
_and
purclw.
.. Ie.. a
uer'1 use
. t 1966.
!ivea back
'StIller the
_, or a
he parIl..
paid $16,-
Mod.1 GL,
.. title ree.
otaI OlIt.<lr-
..... $17,-
.tII totalUng
rt wltn....
1& p\alnutr
1M" during
"",ed that.
. there was
N,T, at 46,
10wIeh also
.. Contour
1IJI\De" Ex-
, ResuIator
Aeeordlng
JUt tor the
ba $76,00,
lad that the
iIIJeet .... at
T, at 60, he
ot the No-
2. To be r.recl5c. 10 re~h $50,000.01. the counsel
ree wou d have 10 be Sll, 195,51, which is 5.93
lime. the $5,601.50 market 10M and 1.98 times
the trebled amount of $16.804.50
1, We I'y "mo" cOI\Ie'""ltl'Ve" btc.usc we ho...e
made no "reasonable aUowance" for the ptaln
dfr, "w.e or the v.hlde" liven the undlaputed
ruth)' !.hat he II Ius; u of Oc.tober 23. 1996 had
driven the car 7 ,~68 miles. Stt n, I, luprG. The
record deled not dlsclo!oe the mllule on the c.r
"
127
.
o \U'"YIotIl""1I1ot
Shllron K, SARKO, )'Ialntltt,
v,
PENN-\lt:I, nlltECTOItY COMPANY,
Derendant.
Civil MUon No. 96-1428,
United Stale. Distrlcl Court,
E,D, Penn.ylvllllia,
Jan. 22, 1997.
FOlmer employee brought Amerlean.
wiU, DisabillUe. Act (ADA) action alleging
;).'\ of ,he date of ming. It leems reason.ble to
u,ume that (he ....Iue of ,I. monw' u.w of .
517,151 car It least equals the nnance charles
pllllntiff SI)'I he has Incurred. which he reporu
were ".pproll.lmllely 51.000" as of the dlte hil
coun~1 filed his memorandum on lhl.s I.saue.
PI.Mem. It 4th unnumbered pile. Presumabl)',
as of Mil)' U, 1996. Ihole charlea would be half
,hi, lliMned lum
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i I d IUI Hid ial!eUI~; ~ ,~ ~i~1 un ~I ~Ii~
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~ I II UII filn!:, ~ u ll!R!~ i~i~ II;! In:_
collateral charges and attorney's fees," Defendant contends and
has dons so at the Pre-trial Conference that the amount in
controversy in this case does not exceed the applicable
$25,000,00 arbitration limits for Cumberland County, Defendant
refers the Court to its Motion to strike this matter from the
trial list and/or continue the action which is filed concurrently
with this Pre-trial Memorandum of Law detailing the reasons why
this Inatter should proceed before an arbitration board and not
before a jury,
Plaintiff's Complaint does detail several alleged
problems and/or complaints with the 1995 Dodge purchased in
Maryland, Plaintiff's counsel in the Pre-trial Memorandum
improperly refers to these alleged repairs and/or problems as
non-conformities which is also disputed by the Defendant,
To the contrary, Defendant contends that the vehicle
has performed appropriately and as expected by the
consumer/Plaintiff in this case, Moreover, the vehicle has oeen
repaired successfully when brought to subject dealerships for
warranty repairs, It is Defendant's position that no breach of
warranty has occurred and that no damages are appropriate under
the Magnuson-Moss Act, the Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code
and/or the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer
Protection Law,
-2-
II . DAMAGES
Defendant emphatically denies that damages exceed the
applicable $25,000,00 arbitration limits in this case, Defendant
has concurrently filed with this Pre-trial Memorandum a Motion to
strike this matter from the trial list as the matter should be
presented to an arbitration board for these reasons, Defendant
refers this Honorable Court to its Motion for a detailed analysis
and its reasoning as to why this matter should proceed before an
arbitration board and not before a jury,
While it is true that under the Pennsylvania Unfair
T:t'ade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, a jury could find in
favor of the Plaintiff and the Court, upon its discretion, could
treble these damages if such appropriate factors are proven at
trial, the amount in controversy when netted against the value of
the vehicle as returned to Chrysler even after trebling by the
Court would not exceed the applicable $25,000,00 arbitration
limits, It is highly disputed that the Plaintiff will even set
forth or put on any evidence to suggest that the Defendant has
breached any standards or requirements under the Pennsylvania
Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law,
II:[ . STATEMENT AS TO PRINC:IPAL ISSUES OF LIAB:ILITY AND DAMAGES
Defendant refers this Court to the above statements as
well as their Motion filed concurrently with this Pr.e-trial
-)-
repurchase were in order, Defendant awaits these calculations
and specific demand from the Plaintiff,
Defendant has no authority to settle this case at this
time, Only after the vehicle is inspected and such calculations
in a more refined demand is submitted by the Plaintiff can
Defendant make a decision as to an evaluation of this case.
VIII. OUTSTANDING ITEMS
Defendant has filed concurrently with this Pre-trial
Memorandum a Motion to strike this matter from the trial list,
Defendant appreciates and requests consideration of that Motion
by this Honorable Court, Moreover, Defendant objects to the
listing of this case for trial as discovery is not yet complete,
Defendant has yet to inspect Plaintiff's vehicle and has been
attempting to do so over the past several weeks,
In addition, Plaintiff's counsel has promised to turn
over Plaintiff's exhibits 7 and 8 as well as other alleged repair
orders and has ~ done so to date, All such repair orders were
requested through discoveI'Y and have not ever been produced,
Such inspection and document recovery may lead to
ultimate settlement negotiations, and it is requested for this
reason that the matter be removed from the trial list to allow
-6-
4, Neither tlurinl! the June 17, IlJlJK conference, nllr pursuunttothe June 9, IlJlJK
Cull of the Triul List in Cumbcrlund County, did Chrysler's counsel ruise issues pertuininl! tll the
amount in controversy Ilr complcteness of discovery,
5, It is submilled thut, in litiling to raise issues questionubly relevant to the
amount in controversy anti the completeness of discovery during the June 17, 1998 I're-trial
conli:rence, Chrysler waived uny objections relatinl! thereto with prejudice,
6, Notwithstanding said wuiver, Plainti!r will allow Chrysler to inspect the
subject vehicle until thirty-six (36) hours prior tll the Notice for Trial. provided that Pluintilr is
ufiorded a copy of Chrysler's expert report at least twenty-four (24) hours before commencement of
trial.
7, In ~7 of its Mo/ion /11 Strike. Chrysler materially misstates the law in
averring that "it is also undisputcd that under any sccnario whereby the Defendants are found liable
and a verdict or decision is rcturned in favor of the Plaintit'!: that the Plaintitr must return the
vehicle if a repurchase is in ortler and is granted by thc Court," lei. Assuming. arguendo, the jury
were to tintlliability under the Magnuson-Moss Act, the Pcnnsylvania Uniform Commercial Code
or the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, thc calculation of
damages would not necessarily involve Chrysler's repurchasc of Plaintiffs vehicle. To the contrary,
and as Chrysler readily admits in ~~ 12-13 of it Motion, under a breach of warranty theory, the
measure of damages is equal to the difti:renee at the time and place of acceptance between the value
of the goods accepted and the value they would have had. had they been as warranted. 13 P.S. *
2714(b), Under this theory, damages may be equal to or less than the purchase price, Nowhere is
repurchase mentioned as an exclusive remedy,
2
II, I'luinlitl' hus provided Chrysler with copies of ull exhibits intended Il.r use ut
triul. As u result, one is hurd-presscd to fUlholll how Chrysler Is, In uny wuy, prejudiced bcll.lre
procccding to triul. Chryslcr's rel\uest to rClllow the illstunt cuse from the July I 9911 triul listtu the
next uvuilublc list -- incluslw of its conccrns rcgurding unlllunt in controversy und unlinished
discovery -- bcspeuks u trunspurcnt ullempt to dduy, huruss und otherwise uvuid udjudicution of thc
underlying c1uims bcll.lre un impurtiuljury,
9, Pluintlff is gruvcly concerned that in '1~7-15 of Chrysler's MOlion 10 Slrike,
whercin Chrysler asserts the so-called "nct ceonomlc gain" theory approprillled by Judge Dalzell of
the Eastern District to call compulsory urbitration into question, Chrysler has misled this Honorable
Court us to a dispositive theory of law in valuating breach of warranty claims, Months after
decisions were handed down in cases cited by Chrysler, Williom.wm v. Chrysler CorporCllion,
United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, May 6. 1997, 173 F,R,D, 131 (E,D,
Pa, 1997) and Shimsky v. rlml MOlor Comp(my. 170 F,R.D, 125 (E.D, Pa, 1997), Judge Harvey
Bartle, also of the Eastern District. decided Neilo/1 v. ChrYl'ler ('orpo/'lllio/1. 1997 WL 798266, No,
97-5749, on December 11,1997, A copy of the Neilo/1 decision is attached hereto and marked as
Exhibit "c."
10, In light of Neilon. which expressly rejects the "net economic loss" theory, and
coupled with the tact thut the Williom,wlII and Shimsky decisions 1;1il to carry precedent in
Pennsylvania. this Honorable Court is far from required, as Chrysler suggests. to deduct the "book
value" of the subject vehicle from the purchase price in calculating the measure of damages
available to, Plaintiff,
II. The "net economic gain" method does not seem to be appropriate for use in
determining subject matter jurisdh::tion in a \liversity case applying Pennsylvania law since it is not
.I
1997 WI. 7911266
Pugc I of 3
(Cite as 1997 WL 798266 (E DPa ))
John S NEILON
v
CHRYSLER CORPORATION
No. CIV A 97-5749.
United Slates District Court, ED Pennsylvania.
Dec. 11, 1997.
Paull. Guest, Jr., Newtown Square, PA, for John S. Neilan, Plalnllffs
Richard A Franklin, Hwang and Nix, PC, Philadelpbia, PA, for Chrysler Corporation, Defendants,
MEMORANDUM
BARTLE, J.
'1
(Cite as 1997 WL 798266, '1 (E D Pa.))
This Is a "lemon law" case Presently before the Court is the motion of defendant Chrysler Corporatl011
("Chrysler") to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction Chrysler contends that the claim of plaintiff John
Neilan does not exceed $75,000, exclusive of interest and costs, as required for diversity jurisdiction under 28
use 9 1332(a) (West 1993).
According to the complaint plaintiff purchased a new Dodge Dakota 4x4 Pickup Truck from Chrysler In
September, 1996. (Complaint at ~ 4). He experienced problems With the truck and Chrysler attempted to fix the
vehicle by replacing the ring gear, pinon. propeller shaft, universal Joint and differential (Plaintiffs
Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction at n 1).
After several unsuccessful repair attempts, plaintiff sued in federal court under: (1) the Pennsylvania Lemon
Law, Pa. Stat Ann tit 73,991951-63 (West 1993) ("Lemon Law"); (2) the Magnuson-Moss Act, 15 U.S.C. 9
2301 et seq. (West 1998); (3) the Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code, 13 Pa Cons. Stat Ann. 991101 et
seq. (West 1984); and (4) the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, Pa Stat
Ann tit 73, 99201-1 to 201-9.2 (West 1993)
The Supreme Court requires a relatively low burden of proof for plaintiffs in establishing the requisite
jurisdictional amount:
The rule governing dismissal for want of Jurisdiction in cases brought in the federal court is that, unless the law
gives a different rule, the sum claimed by plaintiff controls If the claim is apparently made in good faith. It must
appear to a legal certainty that the claim is really for less than the J'lrisdictlonal amount to justify dismissal
St Paul Mercury Indemnity Co v Red Cab Co, 303 US 283.288-89,58 S.Ct 586,82 LEd 845 (1938).
Courts will uphold a reasonable, good faith estimate of plaintiffs claims at the time the action begins, even if
the ultimate award departs from that estimate See, eg, McNulty v. Travel Park, 853 F.Supp. 144, 146
(E.DPa 1994). In addition, we construe all facts and reasonable Inferences in favor of the non-moving party
when considering a motion to dismiss See, eg, Rock v City of Philadelphia, 868 F2d 644,645 (3d CIr.19B9).
While defendant focuses on the jurisdictional amount for a diverSity action under 9 1332(a), Neilon also alleges
federal jurisdiction based on the Magnuson-Moss Act (Complaint at ~ 3) That statute provides a cause of
action to an injured consumer when a warrantor fails to comply With a written or Implied warranty. 15 USC. 9
2301 et seq. Neilon cannol bring this action In federal court If "the amount in controversy is less than the sum
or value of $50,000 (exclusive of interests and costs) computed on the basis of all claims to be determined in
the suit" 15 USC at9 2310(d)(3)(B).
Only certain items may be counted to arrive at this $50,000 minimum. Because the Magnuson-Moss act
Involves a breach of warranty, the standard measure of damages is the difference between the value of goods
as warranted and the value of the defective goods See Pa Stat Ann. til13 at 9 2714(b) (West 1984); Kruse
v Chevrolet Motor Division, CivA No 96.1474, 1997 WL 408039 at'l (E 0 Pa July 17, 1997). Punitive
damages may be included In the damages calculation If they are available under state warranty law See, e.g.,
Boelens v. Redman Homes, Inc, 748 F 2d 1058 1067 (5th CIr 1984); Hatcher v Chrysler Motor Corp., No
CivA No. 89-6792, 1990 WL 21164 at'1 (EDPa Mar 7, 1990) These damages, however, are not available
under Pennsylvania's Uniform Commercial Code See Hatcher. 1990 WL 21154 at '1; Rose v A & L Motor
Sales, 699 F Supp. 75, 76-77 (WD Pa 1988). Attorneys' fees cannot be added toward the requirement since
they are excluded costs. See, e.g. Hatcher. 1990 WL 21164 at'1 Finally, for jurisdictional purposes under the
Magnuson-Moss Act, plaintiff may not count the treble damages allowed under Pennsylvania's Uniform Trade
Products and Consumer Protection law ("UTPCPL") See Kruse 1997 WL 408039 at '3. Rose, 699 F.Supp. at
n
'2
PLAINTIFF'S
EXHIBIT
C
ED Pa))
(Clt I
...IdclilUlt.asp&RLT' ('f,I[)"'t.5FF()R
&ScriaINunl' !lJlJl10254 74&StatEd6/22198
1l)l}7 WI. 798266
Puge 2 of 3
We are certain that plaintiff cannot meet the Jurisdictional requirement under the federal statute, even though
value of the truck in Its allegedly defective condition is unknown at this tilne Plaintiffs damages could be no
more than $22,818.60, the alleged pur9hase price and collateral charges for the truck Nellon clearly falls short
ot the necessary $50,000 to Institute the Magnuson-Moss claim in federal court
Therefore, If we have subject matter Jurisdiction it must be based on diversity of citizenship and the requisite
amount In controversy. See 28 US C ~ 1332(a). The parties are of diverse citizenship. We are left with
determining whether the plaintiffs claims under state law exceed $75,000 exclusive of Interest and costs. If so,
we also have Jurisdiction over the Magnuson-Moss Act claim. See 28 U.SC ~ 1367(a).
Pennsylvania's "lemon law" statute pr.:Jvldes the formula for determining the damages under It Plaintiff 15
entitled to the purchase price of the car less a "reasonable allowance for the purchase~s use of the vehicle not
exceeding 10 cents per mile driven or 10% of the purchase price of the vehicle, whichever is less." See Pa
Stat Ann tit 73 at ~ 1955; see also, Jones v. General Motors Corp., CivA No 90-7816, 1991 WL 59902 at 'I
(E.DPa. Apr.l1, 1991); Belaga v. Volvo North America Corp., ClvA No. 90-1891, 1990 WL 69031 at'3
(E.D.Pa May 22, 1990); Voorhees v General Motors Corp., CivA No 90-295, 1990 WL 29650 at'l (E.D.Pa.
Mar. Hi, 1990); Robinson v Hyundai Motor America, 683 FSupp. 515, 516 (E.D.PaI988). In addition,
reasonable attorneys' fees and collateral charges, such as accrued finance charges, are recoverable under
Pennsylvania's "lemon law" and are InclUded in calculating the jUrisdictional amount See Pa. Stat Ann tit 73
at ~ 1958; Jones, 1991 WL 59902 at'l; Robinson, 683 F.Supp at 516. Finally, a violation of the "lemon law"
statute Is also a violation of the UTPCPL which provides fOl' the possibility of treble damages. See Pa Stat
Ann tit 73 at, ~ 1961 & ~ 201-92(a).
Taking the plaintiffs assertions as true and following the formula outlined in the statute, we reach the following
claim for damages:
FN1. Neilan alleges that he only drove the vehicle 2,284 miles before
first reporting a problem to Chrysier. According to the statute, the maximum reduction for this use would
be 10 cents per mile for 2,284 miles which equals $22840.
Purchase price and collatel'al charges: $22.8 I 8.60
Reasonable use deduction: - 228.40 [FN I I
FN I. Neilon alleges that he only drove Ihe vehicle 2,284 milcs before lirst
reporting a problem to Chrysler. According to the statute, the maximum
reduction lor Ihis use would he 10 cenls per mile tor 2.284 mile3 which
equals $228.40.
...--.........------......------..------_____.~_..___......__....___....oM.........................
Subtotal
$22.590.20
UTPCPI. treblc damages:
x 3
.....................................------................-..............................................................
Sublotal
$67.770.60
After trebling the damages, Neilon needs only $7,22941 to exceed the $75,000 requirement At this stage we
cannot conclude to a legal certainty that plaintiff will not be entitled to Ihls amount In attorneys' fees. [FN2]
Therefore, he meets the Jurisdictional requirement mandated by ~ 1332(a).
FN2. Chrysler contends thaI Neilan overstates the collaterai charges by at least $1,200. Assuming
arguendo that Chrysler Is correct, Neilan would need $8,42940 In attorneys' fees to meet the
jurisdictional requirement This increase does not change our analysis.
Chrysler contends, however, that Neilan used the wrong formula when calculating his potential damages. In
support, defendant cites the "net economic gain" met~,od of determining the amount in controversy used in
Williamson v. Chrysler Corp., 173 FRO. 131 (E 0 Pa 1997) See also Shimsky v. Ford Motor Co, 170 FRO.
125 (E. D. Pa.1997) Under this approach, the court deducts the current market value of the vehicle from the
purchlilse price The result is the plaintiffs loss See Williamson, 173 F RD at 132 In order to use this method
to compute to a legal certainty whether plaintiffs damages are below the jUllsdictional threshold, we must know
the current market value of the vehicle to a legal certainty Id
...fdefault.asp&RI.ToCl.lD%5 FF()RITIl59226&FindTypc .0 Y &ScriilINum" I 998025474&StatEd6/22/98
11197 WI. 798266
Page 3 of J
'3
(Cite as 1997 WL 798266, '3 (E.DPa.))
The "net economic gain" method does not seem to be appropriate for use In determining subject mailer
JUrisdiction In a diversity case applying Pennsylvania law since It Is not consistent with the method ror
calculating damages provided by the Commonwealth's "lemon law" statute. See Pa Stat Ann tit 73 at ~ 1955
Accordingly, we will follow the approach outlined in that statute as explained above. In any caso, Williamson
does not change the outcome here because we cannot determine on the record before us the current market
value of Nellon's truck to a legal certainty.
Chrysler relies on an affidavit by Mallhew Zielke, an Arbitration Manager at Chrysler, which states that the
wholesale market value of a similarly equipped vehicle is betwaen $11,400 and $12,400 according to the
National Auto Research Black Book for September, 1997. (Defendant's Memorandum In Support of its Motion
to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Maller Jurisdiction at 6). Chrysler then subtracts the lower estimate of $11 ,400
from plaintiffs total purchase price estimate of $22,81860 to reach $11.41860. [FN3j Trebling this figure
results In only $34,25560 in damages, leaving over $40,000 to be accounted for by attorneys' fees In order to
reach the $75,000 minimum.
FN3. In addition, Chrysler subtracted $1,200 in collateral charges as discussed In note 2. Since
defendant uses the wrong formula, we do not need to address the accuracy of this deduction.
Chrysler errs by relYing on Mr Zielke's figures which do not refer to the value of Neilan's truck, but rather to a
similarly equipped truck of the same model and year As his deposition reveals, Mr Zielke has never Inspected
Neilan's truck and he does not claim to know its value (Deposition of Mallhew Zielke at 36-40). While Mr.
Zielke's comparative analysis may very well turn out to be correct. we cannot say at this point that we know the
market value of plaintiffs truck to a legal certainty, especially If It IS really a "lemon" Thus, we cannot hold that
the plaintiff has failed to meet the requisite Jurisdictional amount under the "net economic gain" method, even If
that method is valid.
Since plaintiffs complaint provides a good faith estimate of damages In excess of $75,000, exclusive of Interest
and costs, as required under ~ 1332(a), we will deny the motion of defendant to dismiss for lack of subject
mailer jurisdiction.
ORDER
AND NOW, this 11th day of December, 1997, for the reasons set forth In the accompanying Memorandum, It Is
hereby ORDERED that the motion of defendant Chrysler Corporation to dismiss for lack of subject mailer
Jurisdiction Is DENIED.
E.DPa.,1997.
Neilan v. Chrysler Corp.
END OF DOCUMENT
Copr. (C) West 1998 No Claim to Orlg. U.S. Govt Works
,. .Idefault,asp&RI.T ~(,l.I[)%5 F FQRI.T859226& FindType ... Y &Serial N um= 19980254 74&StatEd 6/22/98
.JURY INSTRUCTION NO.2
BREACH OF WARRANTY
A warranty is a promise, either express or implied. made by a seller of goods that the goods
he or she sells will possess a certain characteristic or characteristics, The plaintill' contends that the
defendant made an express, bumper-to-bumper warranty that covered the subject vehicle for a
period of thrce (3) years or thirty-six thousand miles (36,000), whichever comes sooner, The
defendant in this case admits making such a warranty but contends that the warranty was not
breached in this instance, I will give you the legal definition of warranty, and you will tind upon the
evidence either that a wammty was or was not in efTect in thc manner the plaintifT contends, If you
tind that the warranty was in dlect in thc manner the plaintifT contends. you must the.l dedde
whether the defendant breached the warranty, If you find that the defendant breached the warranlY.
you must tinally decide whether thc detendant's brcach of the warranty was a substantial factor in
causing the hann that the plaintitT claims he has sullered, Thc thn:e questions you must decide are,
therefore: (I) whether a warranty existed. (2) whether the detendant hreach.:d the warranty, and (3)
whether the breach of the warranty was a substantial factor in causing harm to the plaintiff, If you
tind in favor of the plaintifT on all three questions, you will return a verdict for the plaintill', IF you
do not find in favor of the plaintitT on all three questions. you will retum a verdict for the defendant.
Pa, SSJI (Civ,) 9,00,
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GEORGE SULLENBERGER JR
4520 VAl.LY ROAD
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HOME: 697-0875 BUS: 732-7620
'INVOICE'
PAGE 1
SERVICE ADVISOR:
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95 DODGE 500 PU
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6714/20 Carlisle Pike
Mechanlc8buro. PA 17066
BMW/SubBru 17171 697.9462
Dodoe/Shelbv (7171 697.9460
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S'rK:16662 DLR:OTHER ENG:5.9L DSI
l)TAX EXEMPT #21527622 2TNO CSC
08: 22 18AUG95 9' 3 8 UG95
LINE OPCODE TECH TYPE HO~
A'RECALL 638
CAUSE: RECALL
23638182 RECALL 638
409 D.L.W. LIC/: 2371
WD93 0.20
1 CBRA6380 CAM
FC:
PART#: CBRA6380
COUNT :
CU.IM TYPE:
AUTH CODE:
2371
LIST
NET
TOTAL
eN/C)
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PARTS: 0.00 LABOR: 0.00 OTHER : 0.00 TOTAL LINE A: 0.00
....................................................
a $24.99 OIL AND FILTER CHANGE
MA1CA DEISEL COUPON OIL AND FILTER
409 D.L.W. LIC/: 2371
CD 0.50 15.00 15.00
1 4429615 FILTER 7.20 7.12 7.12
11 DOlL OIL 1.82 1.07 11.77
PARTS: 18.89 LABOR: 15.00 OTHER : 0.00 TOTAL LINE B: 33.89
....................................................
I
PLAINTIFF'S
EXHIBIT
S AI
T"-f.cloryw.,."tyCOtlIIUuf...lI
0' 1M W"f.m~ with ,,,,"cl '0
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CUSTOMlfll SIGNATURE
CUSTOMER COpy
DUCIUPTION
lABOR AMOUNT
PARTS AMOUNT
GAS. Oil. LUll
SUBUT AMOUNT
MI8C. CHAROn
TOTAL CHAROES
LESS INSURANCE
SALlS TAX
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. S2.\9600T WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION SUMMAR y C13T0885
12/02/97
VIN: IB7KF26C1SS133961 --- 95 DODGE RAM 2500 16:38:34
T C - - - -REPAIR- ---
C N DATE ZN DLR CLAIM/SC MILEAGE MICRO/AUTH LIST-DT TOT-EXP
W 06/07/96 42436 630820 31,258 96071 $252.07 A
1 LOP.08191506 SNSR ASS FC.3T PART.04485165 EXP. $252.07
VW 01./11/96 54023 162617 23,920 96022 $153.84 A
1 LOP.08528001 MTR-W/S WIPER FC.14 PART.55076549 EXp. $153.84
W 10/17/95 42436 503920 18,908 95111 $210.02 A
1 LOP.14304603 SLND FUEL CUTOFF FC.07 PART.04761273 EXP. $210.02
S 08/18/95 42436 470640 15,148 95091 $10.41 A
1 LOP.23638182 SECONDARY LATCH FC.UC PART..CBRA6380 EXP.. $10.41
W 05/05/95 42436 411960 9,464 95061 $918.97 A
1 LOP.23705102 FRONT FENDER FC.P2 PART.NO PART EXP. $918.97
TOTAL WAR.RA.VTY COST: $1632.31
PF 1.DLR/SUS 2..PGl 3.DLR 4.AUTH 6..VEH 7.CLM DTL 8.HELP 9..DESC l1..WARR 12..0WNR
**** PRESS ENTER TO CONTINUE ****
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EXHIBIT
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CUMBERLAND VAllEY MOTORS
SI"'2O CARlI5lE P'.E
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wo,k, Such charge wtll e. directly "lll.d 10 'h. aelual .mounl olllbot or part I Included In th.
Inlj)4tClon. 'epalr or .Irvle..
AUTHO"IZATlON '0" "'PA''''
I hlr.by lulhorlz. 'hi r.pall work h,"I" III forth 10 be don. Ilona wllh Ih. n,c,slIty ma'erlal
and aa'.. 'hal you ar. nol ,.eponllbl.,or k)1I or damagllo vlhlC'1 or Irtlelll I.ft In vehlel. In
ell. 01 fl". 11'1.11 or Iny olh.r ciUII ~YlJnd your conl,ot Of 'ot any delaYI eluled by unlIvllllllblllly REVISED
01 Plrt, 0' dellVI In part'lhlpm.nl' Ih, ,uooller Ot' IfanlPG:r1.t. IMllbv or.nf you andlor your (STIMAT&: (2)
Imolay... permllllon 10 ope.ral' 11'1, Ihlell hi"ln dllc,ll)fd on 11'lItl" h !OhwaYI or els.wher.
lor lhl purpall o~ '"lIng ancUDr Inlpecllon. An 'llp"S. mechanic', B.n . tier.by acknowledged
on lbovl vlhlell 10 IICur. lh. amount 01 "pIlft tll"tO, Th. dll'ershlp Is nof 'esponSlbl. 10f
d.m.g.s 110m fr'lzlng du.lo lack 0' anlll'II,.. '
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.. ": --:'.;~;; ~ r,.;~' "~:I' ~..4fl'.." I~:I . ,.
AUTHORIZED BV
REVISID
ES11"'ATI II)
TI
R.placed pllrta will be returned unl." speclntd otherwls..
() Aelur" parts 0 OhSC8rd partl.
"IVlstO
ESTlMATl(j)
I HIiREnV ACl<NOWUDOE THAi I WAS oo11f110. GAVE ORAL APPROVAL Of
THE AeOVE REVIS1D ESTIMATES:
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6714/20 CARLISLE PIKE
MECHANICSBURG, PA 17055
800-382-1430 OR (717) 697-9448
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TRANS ~ ENGINE ~ PIS ......... Ale ~
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'lI: 7\7 73~ 7620
'lIl 717 697 06H
p~ 170t&. Cntr~~ us~ ~ln91 i
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PLAINTIff'S
" EXHIBIT.'
--
07/31/g7
CAIR Data FIle
CAIR: 3438036 33 21 2 Page:
. Tmp Address:
SULLENBERGER
Phi 717 732 7620
Phi
PA 17021. CntrYI USA L.ngl E
1
Company: ACCENT FUNDING
CUlt: MR GEORGE
AD1: .27 ENOLA RD SUITE B
AD21
ety/St/ZIP, ENOLA
Co'ownl
eOm~.nYl
Rlpl
ADll
AD21
Cty/St/ZIP.
St.tu. Ind Not.. ...........................
Open.d by, SJMS Open Otl 060786 Typ, C
Stat. C Cloled by, SJMS Clol.d Dt, 060786
Alrt. Currelp' SJM5 33
L.t ~pd. 060716 1211P SJMS 33
Cntc TYPI T Orlgl C M.11 Ctgry,
Dt on Ltr, E_ICI
R..p Ltrl Re.p Ltr Dtl
H
PhI
PhI
CntrYl
L.ngl
Check Informat1on ............~..
Ck Amt' '.00 51
P'YII'
Addrl.
AddrZI
C1tYI
St/ZIP,
V.htcl. In'orm.tton ..........................................................
VIN, lQ7KF26ClSS133861 YR/Modl', 85 DODGE RAM 2500 PICkUP
511 Zn/Sl,/Svc/Dlrl 35 A T 442g8 HERTRICH DODGE In Srv Data; 11/05/14
Svc Zn/Sl./Svc/Dlr: 33 K k 42436 CUMBERLAND VALLEY HOTO Curr M1/Km. M 30000
WCC, 300 . /36 3/36* 0
CSC.
Recll'l 638 . SECONDARY HOOD LATCH 8RkT. SA~ETY StatuII C
Reel'"708 . STEERING SHA~T SAFETY Seltu.. I
General Narrative ............................................................
REASONS ~OR CONTACT.
I) Antl'Lock 8r'~1 5y.tem . Nol..y
*".) NARRATIVi ADDEO IY S. J. MAHONEY ON 06/~7/85 AT 12110AH
6.,.g5 Ownlr c., led blcau,. bra~11 ara nolley. Vlh1cla wla dllgnosed by de
aler and they rlcommond re~'lcln, front rotor, and pad, Ind 11.0 ABS .enlor
Wrltlr ,dvl,ed thlt rlpllr II not covered undlr w.rranty Ind IUI,e"ld Ilkl
n, 'he d.,llr 11 rlth.r 'hln repl1c1nl pad. Ind rotors. could they b, cle.n
ed and rl.urfeced. No lalll'lnce o"ered. 'Jm
. ,4-87 I WU
..
71" U14101;f ~
Warranty Summary
Dlt. Mllllgl ,.0 , Condition
1 ~-5- q S ~ ~ ~~~.J~
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4 .! -\\-'1.-'- ~Cl1..C "'4~\" ~
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7
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, .
REPAIR HISTORY-SULLENBERGER VEHICLE
DATE MILEAGE REPAIR ORDER REPAIR
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
05/08/95 9,464 miles 41196 Paint runs in the right
door and fender.
Estimates from
Spankey's and Gray's
Auto Body Shop.
Sublet to Gray's Auto
Body for repair.
08/18/95 15,148 47064 Secondary hood latch
miles recall.
10/17/95 18,908 50392 Truck would crank,
miles but not start, Replace
defective
solenoid/fuel shutoff
valve.
01/11/96 23,920 162617 Defective Wiper
miles Motor.
06/07/96 31,258 63082 Defective ABS,
miles screeching brakes.
09/26/97 53,088 196030 Transmission does
miles not shift properlv.
12/27/97 unknown 053346 Batteries (2) needed.
miles
J
PLAINTIFF'S
EXHIBIT
05-0;1-96
-2-
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
This bulletIn involves the replacement of the rear wheol cylinders
vlith lo'rger displacement wheel cy lindors.
1. support vehicle and raise on suitoblo hoist.
2. Remove both rear wheels and brake drums.
3. usiny tube nut wrenches, disconnect brake line from wheel
cylinder.
1. nemove the rear wheel c:ylin<1er attaching screws and remove
wheel cylinder from the backing plate.
5. Clean support plate and lubricate shoe contact pods with Hopar
Caliper Slide Grease (PIN JB993704).
6. Apply thin coat of Hopar Silicone Sealer (PiN 4319025) to
wheel cylinder mounting surface of support plate. Sealer
prevents road splash from entering brake drum past cylinder.
7. start brake line in cylinder inlet by hand. Do not tighten
fitting at this time.
9. I~ount wheel cylinder on support plate and install cylinder
attaching screws. 'righten screws to 20 Nm (15ft. 1be.)
torque.
9. Tighten brake line fitting to 123 Nm (115 in. lbe.) torque.
10. Install brake shoe components removed to access wheel
cylinder.
11. Adjust brake shoe to drum on both sides using brake gauge.
12. Install brake drums.
13. Fill and pressure bleed brake system with approved brake
fluid.
14 Install wheel and tire assemblies and lower vehicle.
POLICY:
Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.
TIHE ALLOWANCE:
Labor operar.ion NO: 05-90-50-92 . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.1 Hre.
Related operation: 50-90-50-60/61 ........... 0.2 HI'!1
Dual Rear Wheals
FAILURIl CODIIl:
PO - New Part
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CAPOZZI & ASSOCIATES, P.C.
Attorneys at Law
1711 NonII fronlltntl . Harrilburr, PA IJI01 . T.ltphon. (111) 1])-4101 · fu (111) m-410)
\
,
\ Co~~N 0 9. 1998
"IJ' ,.. ""q",:",o", "
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Arbitrution in this CtlSC cun he hYPllsscd dlle tu ('lImherlund ('ullnt)' I.ueul 1{lIle DO I-I,
which sets the urbitrution thrcshold ut $25,OOIl. In the instunt CIIse thc lllllullnt In controversy lilr
exceeds $25,000.00 whcn thc umollnt c1aimcd IIndcr ('mult lis IIWllldcll, und uttonleys' fees urc
added and/or the udditional treble dumagcs uader the c1uillls scllilrth ill ('ullnt IIll\'c addcd.
II. PLAINTIFF'S STATEMENT OF FACTS:
On or about Novcmber 4, 1994, Plalutiff pllrclmsed ancw II \')1)5 Dudgc Dakota 250 from
Defendant's authorized new car dealcr, bcuring vehiclc idcntilicutlun number
1 B7KF26C1 SS 133961. The vehicle was purchased in Maryluud ullll rcgistercd in the
Commonwealth of Pcnnsylvania. Said vehiclc has cxhihitcd nllml'tllUS dcfects since thc timc of
purchase, as referenced in thc repair orders fllr thc vehicle. lhe prlmlll)' nun-eunformitlcs with this
vehicle includc: defcctive paint, u no-stm1 condition. defectiv~ untiluck brakcs. und dcfective
transmission. The following provides II bricf chrunulullY uf rcpuirs: 2/14/1)5 (dcfective paint);
8/18/95 (recall perfomlcd); 10/17/95 (dclectivc solcnoid/no.slart cunditlon); 1/11/96 (defective
wiper motor); 6/13/96 (dcfectivc anti lock brakes); 7/2(,1'>7 (deleetive tnmsmission) and 12/27/97
(defective battery).
On August 1. 1997, Mr. Ives lIell. un independent expert retained and employed by the
National Center for Displlte Rcsulution tu inspect the subjlicl vehicle. did inspect the vchicle at 65
Millers Gap Road. Mr. IIcll verilkd ut ICllsl lilllr of the six COlllplainls he investigated. Mr. Bell
verified the aIltilock brakc (pulling 10 thc rl~ht) pruhlem. thc plllling III the right and vibration
problem, the defective nltors ullllthc delectlvc puint prohh:m. Mr. lves wlint un to say that overall,
the vehicle bad poor cnginli pcrlimnunce. IIIlllmuJur drlvenhilit)' conccrns.
)
A. CHlU>NOLOGY OF I{EPAIRS
^ true und correct chronology of rcpllir allcmpts lor which I'luintilT hus records is set forth
in Pluintill's Exhibit list.
B. DAMAGES.. PUlKHASE AND COLLATERAL CHAR(;ES:
I. Purchuse Price:
The purchase price of the vehicle totaled $29,308.00,l1Q! including all collateral charges.
2. Collateral Charges:
a. Repairs:
PlaintilThad to pay for repairs which should have been covered under warranty provisions.
C. NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTIES: 3 YEAR/36.000 MILES
Defendant issued several wrillen warranties for the vehicle at the time of sale, which it
refers to as a "Limited New Vehicle Warranty", providing "bumper to bumper" coverage for defects
and/or non-confonnities during the first 3 years und/or 36,000 mile period after actual retail
delivery. Only nonnal wear and tear, abuse, neglect, and modification were excluded from
coverage. It is undisputcd that warranty work was never declined by l\ Chrysler dealer based upon a
warranty exclusion. It is also undisputed that routine maintenance was perfonned in accordance
with the manufacturer's guidelines. It is ulso averred that Defendant is in possession of a copy of
said warranty and is requested to produce same for trial.
3
VIII. EXlIIBIT LIST:
PI. MWlulilcturer's express wrillen wnrranty (to be supplied by DcI\mdnnt)
1'2. I'urchnse Contmet
1'3. Repnir Order dnled Februnry 14, 1995 from Omy's Aulo Body Spccinlist.
1'4. Repair Ordcr dnted August 18, 1995, from Cumberland Valley Motors.
1'5. Repair Order dated October 17, 1995, Irom Cumberlnnd Valley Motors.
P6. Repair Order dated June 13, 1996, from Cumberland Valley Motors.
P7. Repair Order dated July 26, 1997, Irom Brenner Motors.
P8. Repair Order dated December 27, 1997, from Batteries Plus.
P9. Warrtlllty Claim History Printout Irom Chrysler.
PIO. Computer Generated Customer Conlact Sheet for 11/30/94 tIIld 5/7/96.
PIl. Independent VehieleInspection report of Mr. lves Bell dated August I, 1997.
P12. Technical Service Bulletins issued by Chrysler that relate to the subject vehicle's
concerns.
Plaintiff expects Defendant Chrysler to stipulate to the admissibility of all exhibits, supra,
save Exhibits "PI I" tIIld "1'12". Plaintifi'submits "I'll" is admissible because 15 USCA ~
23103(C)(i) of the Magnuson-Moss Act states that "any decision in such procedure [NCDS] shall
be admissible in evidencc." Mr. Bell's report assisted the NCDS in reaching its decision tIIld is
thereby made a part by incorporation. Plaintill's Exhibit "1'12" is admissible bccause Technical
Service Bulletins are tantamount to party admissions of defect by the mtlllufacturer. As a result,
they should be admissible, presuming authcnticity.
8
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from the in-service date. The brakes, clutch discs and wipers
are covered under the warranty only for the first year or 12,000
miles, again whichever comes first.
Plaintiff's Complaint details the alleged repair attempts by
Chrysler dealerships to the subject vehicle. The vehicle was
returned to a Chrysler dealership 5 times during the warranty
period. Plaintiffs have also included two (2) additional service
record documents regarding the replacement of a battery and
transmission work completed by Brenner Dodge in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. The vehicle'S mileage at the time of these two (2)
repairs was in e~cess of 50,000 miles and, therefore, well
outside the warranty period. Defendant, Chrysler corporation,
emphasizes that these service records and any testimony
concerning these records and service results are inapplicable,
irrelevant and unnecessary by virtue of the fact that the vehicle
is out of warranty after 36,000 miles.
With respect to the repair attempts and/or service records
within the warranty period, Plaintiff's vehicle was returned 5
times to Cumberland Valley Motors in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
for alleged warranty repairs. On May 5, 1995, the vehicle was
returned to Cumberland Valley Motors with concerns of paint
appearance in the right door and fender. The allegation was that
the factory paint job left pai,nt runs which was not aesthetically
pleasing. Cumberland Valley Motors subcontracted this paint work
to Gray's Autobody in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and according to
Plaintiff Sullenberger, the work was performed.
-2-
Interestingly enough, chrysler's own zone technician
inspected the vehicle in June of 1998 and confirmed that the
paint runs still existed. Matthew Zielke of Chrysler Corporation
will testify that if a paint run is painted, it is virtually
impossible for it to show again, especially If the paint is
removed to the original metal and a new coat is applied with
paint sealant and clear coat. Gray's Autobody has been contacted
with respect to confirming whether or not the work was ever done,
however, Chrysler did issue payment for this work.
Plaintiff next returned the vehicle to the Chrysler
dealership on August 18, 1995 for a recall. A latch was repaired
on the steering column of the vehicle at a time when the vehicle
had approximately 15,148 miles on the odometer. Plaintiff has
testified that he never experienced any problem whatsoever with
the steering column or the steering of the vehicle during the
first J.5,000 miles of use.
On October 17, 1995, Plaintiff again returned the vehicle to
Cumberland Valley Motors for replacement of a solenoid. The
solenoid in effect allows the vehicle to start when turning the
key. The vehicle'S solenoid froze and had to be replaced. After
this was repaired, Plaintiff Sullenberger experienced no further
problems with starting his engine or problems with the solenoid.
No charge was assessed as with the pl"evious repair attempts and
all expenses were covered under the warranty.
On January 11, 1996, Plaintiff returned the vehicle for a
fourth t illle to Cumberland Valley Motors for a wiper motor. The
-3-
mileage at this time was ~3,920 II\lle~ and the wiper motor was
replaced. Plaintiff experienced no further problems with the
wiper motor a fter replacement and the repai r was covered under
the warranty.
Finally, plaintiff returned the vehicle on June 7, 1996 to
Cumberland Valley Motors when the vehicle had approximately
31,000 mil.es on the odometer. Complaints were made of a
screeching noise from the left front wheel area, as well as a
sensor problem with the ABS and brake lights on the dash. Again,
Cumberland Valley Motors replaced the front disc brakes and
rotors. They further corrected the sensor for the brake light
and anti-lock brakes and no similar problems were experienced as
evidenced by Plaintiff's testimony following this repair.
As stated above, Plaintiff returned his vehicle to Brenner
Motors for a shifting problem and to Batteries plus for
replacement of the battery. However, the vehicle was brought to
the aforementioned businesses for repairs when the vehicle had
over 50,000 miles on the odometer. Clearly, the repair attempts
were made outside of the warranty and the warranty does not
contemplate such ,repairs. Defendant's position is that these
repair attempts are irrelevant and no testimony should be
accepted on the subsequent results.
II. LEGAL ISSUES CONCERNING LIABILITY:
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PlaIntiff's Complaint sounds C'uBentidlly in breach of
warranty. The Magnuson-MosB GlainlfJ, as well 'Uj the Uniformed
Commercial Code claims. can be adjudicated under the simple
principle of breach of warranty. The standard for whether or not
the warranty has been breached is simple. In order to determine
whether or not there was a breach of warranty for which Chrysler
Corporation is liable, the trier of fact must decide: 1) whether
a warranty existed; 2) whether the Defendant, Chrysler
Corporat ion, breached the warranty; and 3) whether the breach of
warranty was a substantial factor in causing harm to the
Plaintiff. Pa.S.S.J.I. (Civil) 9.00. Plaintiff must establish
by a preponderance of the evidence that Chrysler breached its
warranty to repair or replace parts that are proven to be
defective in material or workmanship. Pa.S.S.J.I. (Civil) 5.50
(Burden of Proof).
Notice is absolutely essential on the part of the Plaintiff
to carry a burden for breach of warranty actions. The plaintiff
must within a reasonable time after he discovers or should have
discovered an alleged breach of the warranty notify Chrysler
Corporation of the breach or be barred from any remedy. U.C.C.
!i2607(3) (a); 13 P.S. !i2607 (c) (2). Failure to give notice by the
plaintiff bars Mr. Sullenberger from recovering any amounts of
money, including primary economic loss. Stoufman v. Keenan
M,otors. Inc., 14 U.C.C. Rep. 1252 (Pll.C.P. 1973).
Plaintiff now alleges that the vehicle pulls when braking
and when driving the vehicle on a straight road, Plaintiff will
-5-
also teetify that the other primat"y problem at this time is that
the vehicle does not perform well, and that there lis an engine
defect, Plaintiff's testimony, it is believed, will claim that
the vehicle has poor acceleration and poor engine performance in
general. These two (2) claims, however, never existed and were
never reported to Chrysler Corporation or any Chrysler authorized
dealership during the five (5) times that the vehicle was
presented to a Chrysler dealership for the warranty repairs (or
during the first 36,000 miles). Plaintif f' s claims then must be
barred by virtue of the fact that he did not give notice to
Chrysler Corporation that there was a breach of the warranty.
As outlined above, Chrysler Corporation accepted the vehicle
on five (5) separate occasions during the warranty period and
repaired the vehicle on each occasion. The plaintiff did not
complain of any problems related to the warranty repairs
completed during the first 36,000 miles by Cumberland Valley
Motors. Several other invoices will be presented together with
the testimony of Donald Kennedy of Cumberland Valley Motors
confiming that no such complaints were ever made to a Chrysler
dealership. Therefore, under the Uniformed Commercial Code, as
well as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, plaintiff must not
prevail in this case for failure of notice of breach.
Plaintiff's Complaint also seeks damages under the
Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices Act. A violation of this law
can be found only if the trier of fact concludes that Chrysler
Corporation purposefully and/or wrongfully failed to comply with
-6-
the terms of the written guaranty or warranty given to the buyer
at the time of thl;> purchase of the goods, or in this case, of the
1995 Dodge truck. 73 P.S. 201-2. Only malfeasance or improper
performance of a contractual obligation raises a cause of action
under the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer
Protection Law. Horowitz v. Federal Kemper Life Assurance Co.,
57 F.3d 300 (3d Cir. 1995). Non-feasance is insufficient for a
claim under Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices Act. Leo v.
State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., 939 F.Supp. 1186 (Eastern
District, Pennsylvania, 1996). P.S. 2607(c) (1).
Defendant submits that plaintiff will present absolutely no
evidence whatsoever with respect to Chrysler's behavior or
actions in this case. There has been no testimony that Chrysler
Corporation has purposefully and/or wrongfully failed to comply
with the warranty. Again, as detailed above, Chrysler
Corporation accepted the vehicle during the terms of the warranty
and repaired the vehicle each time at no cost to the consumer.
III. LEGAL ISSUES AS TO DAMAGES:
The measure of damages in a breach of warranty case under
the Magnuson-Moss Act and the Uniformed Commercial Code is the
difference at the time and place of acceptance between the value
of the goods accepted and the value that they would have be~n had
they been as warranted. 13 Pa.C.S.A. ~2714(b). The measure of
damages statutorily does no more than compensate the Plaintiff
for the reduction in market value caused by the alleged defective
condition that was not capable of being remedied under the terms
-7-
of the Chrysler's new car basic warranty. Damages, therefore,
must be measured by the amount or cost of comprehensive repair to
the alleged defective part(s) if the plaintiff has in fact proven
a defect and cost. A.M. P.M. Pranchise Assoc. v. Atlantic
JU.sj:)field CQ" 584 A.2d 915, 920, 5:26 Pa. 110 (1990) I K & C. Inc,
v. Westinqhouse Electric Corp., 263 A.2d 390, 437 Pa. 303 (1970)
Plaintiff cannot be awarded a refund of the vehicle purchase
price or of Plaintiff's payments by virtue of the specific terms
of Chrysler's express written warranty. 15 U.S.C.
S2303(a) (1) (2). The amount of damages cannot be presumed,
however, must be proven by an establishment of facts and the
Plaintiff must offer evidence from which damages can be assessed
with a reasonable degree of certainty. Gordon v. Tro~, 234
Pa. Super. 279, 338 A.2d 653 (1975). See, also, Maxwell v.
Schaefer, 381 Par 13, 112 A.2d 69 (1955).
Plaintiff's claims under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
mirrors those under the Uniformed Commercial Code as stated
above. The Magnuson-Moss Act provides no substantive theory of
liability or recovery outside the breach of warranty claims set
forth under the Uniformed Commercial Code. The Plaintiff must
prove by competent expert or informed testimony the value of the
goods at the time and date of acceptance, as well as provide a
damages assessment in the form of cost of repairs. It is simply
inadequate for the Plaintiff only to testify with respect to
general dissatisfaction with the product and enumerate various
repairs that have been performed to fulfill this damages burden.
-8-
This Honorable Court is r"eminded that Chrysler's warranty is
a limited warranty as opposed to a "full" warranty. Therefore,
pursuant to 15 V.S.C. 92303 wIder the Magnuson-Moss Act,
Plaintiffs cannot seek a refund or repurchase of the Dodge truck
by Chrysler Corporation by virtue of the fact that a limited
warranty is being litigated as opposed to a full warranty.
It is important to note that Chrysler's limited warranty
excludes consequential damages and the jury may not award these
types of damages. Pennsylvania law has provided Chrysler
Corporation the opportunity to limit the recovery of
consequential and incidental damages which include loot time,
inconvenience, loss of use of the truck, as well as the cost of
rental cars and the loss of revenue from personal or commercial
property. Pennsylvania law as indicated permits Chrysler
Corporation to do this in their limited warranty. ~,r.hrysler
limited warranty; 13 Pa.C.S.A. ~2719.
Finally, the Court must be apprised of the critical
limitations for recovery in this action by Mr. Sullenberger if in
fact the vehicle has been purchased for commercial use. 80th the
breach of warranty claims under Pennsylvania law, as well as
claims under the Magnuson-Moss Act limit Plaintiff's right to
recover damages or attorneys fees if, in fact, the vehicle is
used for commercial use. plaintiff has testified that he cannot
recall, or could not recall at least at the timp. of his
deposition whether or not the vehicle was deducted as a
commercial vehicle. Plaintiff further denies that it was
-9-
purchased primarily for commercial use. However, all documents
regarding this vehicle include the notation "Accent Funding" AS
the owner, and the Plaintiff confirms the vehicle was purchased
under such name. Moreover, all repair orders include a tax
exempt number which could only mean the vehicle was reg~stered
for commercial use.
Defendant plans to present to the Court at trial a certified
motor vehicle registry, history and title from the Pennsylvania
Department of Motor Vehicles and the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation whi.ch will confirm whether or not the vehicle is
registered for commercial use. If, in fact, the vehicle is
registered for commercial use and the owner is "Accent Funding",
Plaintiff's claims under the Magnuson-Moss Act must fail, as well
as all claims presented under the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade
Practices Act. Those laws provide remedies only for consumers
who purchase goods for family or household use. Likewise,
Plaintiff's claims for attorneys fees are similarly barred by
virtue of these statutes, if, in fact, Plaintiff's vehicle is a
commercial vehicle. ~,73 P.S. ~201-9.2; 15 U.S.C. ~2301(1)
and 2310 (d) (1) and (2).
IV. CONCLUSION:
Defendant, Chrysler Corporation, did not breach its
warranty. This case must not focus on the condition of the
vehicle today now that the Plaintiff has put approximately 60,000
miles on the vehicle. Chrysler's warranty is a limited warranty
for the first 36,000 miles or 3 years, whichever comes first.
-10-
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