Alexander v. Daimlerchrysler Corp.

2004 NCBC 2

• Court: North Carolina Business Court
• Decided: January 30, 2004
• Docket: 01-CVS-3390
• Status: Published

Opinion

Alexander v. DaimlerChrysler, Corp., 2004 NCBC 2

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE WAKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 01 CVS 3390

TONY W. ALEXANDER and wife SARAH ) M. ALEXANDER; ROGER L. MILLER ) and wife PENNY W. MILLER; SHARON ) BELL RICH; DONNY L. WILLIAMS and ) wife DEBRA C. WILLIAMS, on behalf of ) themselves, and others similarly situated, ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION, ) and DAIMLERCHRYSLER MOTORS ) CORPORATION, and HICKORY ) AUTOMALL CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH, ) INC.; AUTO USA, INC., d/b/a Empire ) Chrysler Dodge Jeep Eagle; and YSU ) AUTOMOTIVE, INC., f/k/a Shelby ) Chrysler Plymouth Jeep Eagle, Inc., on ) behalf of themselves, and other Chrysler ) dealers similarly situated, ) ) Defendants. ) ) ORDER AND OPINION

{1} This matter is before the Court on various motions filed by defendants. The Court has permitted the complaint to be amended, and the class action allegations in the

original complaint have been dismissed with Court approval. The pending motions are directed to the individual claims. The Millers have settled their individual claims

against Auto USA, Inc. For the reasons set forth below, the Court dismisses all the claims against DaimlerChrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation

(hereinafter collectively referred to as “DaimlerChrysler”). Additionally, the Court dismisses the individual claims against the dealers for negligence and punitive damages

and dismisses any claims against the dealers under N.C.G.S. § 20-351 et seq. The individuals’ claims against the dealers under the North Carolina Unfair Trade Practices

Act are not subject to dismissal. Summary Judgment is denied as to those claims. The class action allegations having been withdrawn, each case against an individual

dealer stands on its own.

Abrams & Abrams, P.A., by Douglas B. Abrams; Suggs, Kelly & Middleton Lawyers, P.A., by Kenneth M. Suggs, D. Michael Kelly, Bradford Simpson, and Richard Middleton; H.C. Kirkhart, for plaintiffs. Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, PLLC, by Burley B. Mitchell Jr. and Christopher T. Graebe; Bryan Cave LLP by Charles A. Newman and Kathy A. Wisniewski, for Defendants DaimlerChrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation. Teague, Rotenstreich & Stanaland, L.L.P., by Kenneth B. Rotenstreich and Paul A. Daniels, for Defendants Hickory AutoMall Chrysler Plymouth, Inc. and YSU Automotive, Inc., f/k/a Shelby Chrysler Plymouth Jeep Eagle, Inc. Robinson & Lawing, L.L.P., by John N. Taylor, Jr. and Robert J. Lawing, for Defendants Auto USA, Inc., d/b/a Empire Chrysler Dodge Jeep Eagle.

I.

{2} As presently constituted, this case involves claims by Tony and Sarah Alexander (the “Alexanders”) and Sharon Bell Rich (“Rich”) against both DaimlerChrysler

and the local dealers who sold them vehicles which allegedly were governed by Article 15A of the North Carolina General Statutes. Roger and Penny Miller and Donny

and Debra Williams only have claims pending against DaimlerChrysler. The facts surrounding the purchase or lease of the plaintiffs’ vehicles is undisputed for the most

part.

{3} The history of the Dodge Ram pickup truck purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Williams is tortured but clear. The Williamses were the sixth purchaser of the truck, and

they bought it from a Ford dealer in South Carolina. The truck was first sold as a new model on June 13, 1996 to Charles and Wanda Richards. Four months later,

DaimlerChrysler repurchased this truck from Mr. and Mrs. Richards because they were dissatisfied with the paint job and wanted a different truck. The truck was repainted

and sold at auction to Tim Marburger Dodge, Inc. in January 1997. At that time DaimlerChrysler provided a disclosure notice, the sufficiency of which has not been

contested by plaintiffs. Marburger acknowledged receipt of the notice and, as far as the record shows, passed the notice on to Donna Frye Tilley, who purchased the truck

from Marburger. She acknowledged receipt of the notice. The truck was repossessed from Ms. Tilley.

{4} It was then sold to Northcutt Motors of Hartsville, South Carolina; at that time, it had more than 12,000 miles usage. Northcutt then sold the truck to Benson Ford-

Mercury Inc. in Easley, South Carolina, from which Mr. and Mrs. Williams made their purchase. They would not have purchased the truck had they known it had been

repainted. Although they purchased the truck from an authorized Ford dealership, they would tie DaimlerChrysler to the purchase because the Ford dealership was allegedly affiliated with the Chrysler dealership in the same town. The Williamses knew no later than January 1998 that the vehicle had been repainted. They assert no

claim against the dealer who sold them the truck, nor have they experienced any problem with the paint on the vehicle.

{5} The Millers’ vehicle was also a Dodge Ram truck. It was originally sold as a new vehicle to Larry Brown in January 1997. In August 1997 DaimlerChrysler

repurchased the vehicle from Larry Brown. The reason for the repurchase was steering problems. At the time of the repurchase the truck’s mileage totaled 9,942. It was

repaired and sold at auction to Auto USA, Inc. in September 1997. At the sale DaimlerChrysler provided Auto USA a disclosure notice that indicated the truck had been

repurchased under consumer warranty laws due to “Multiple Steering Repairs - pulling.” The sufficiency of that notice under the statute is not contested. Auto USA

acknowledged receipt of the disclosure notice. As far as this record is concerned, Auto USA did not pass that disclosure on to the Millers when they signed their lease

agreement. They would not have signed the lease agreement if they had known it was a vehicle repurchased under warranty. The lease was a 50-month lease signed on

January 17, 1998. Their lease did not obligate them to purchase the vehicle, but they had the option to purchase the truck at the end of the lease for a residual value of

$14,225.

{6} The Millers filed suit while the lease was still in effect. However, in October 2001 the Millers elected to purchase the car for the residual value. They had no

obligation to do so. At that time they were fully aware of the vehicle’s history: that it was a repurchased vehicle and that it had experienced steering problems. The only

explanation for this seemingly irrational behavior was their counsel’s suggestion that for some reason they needed to purchase the vehicle as evidence, a theory not yet

understood by the Court.

{7} The Alexanders purchased their car, a Jeep, from Hickory Automall Chrysler Plymouth Inc. (“Hickory”) in April 1997. At the time of their purchase the vehicle’s

mileage totaled less than 10,000, and no disclosure was made to them which would have put them on notice that the car had been repurchased by DaimlerChrysler as a

result of the original owner’s complaints of multiple water leaks. In fact, the Jeep purchased by the Alexanders had originally been sold to Gavin D. Ray in October 1995.

After Mr. Ray’s complaints of water leaks reached the Customer Arbitration Board, DaimlerChrysler and Ray entered into a settlement pursuant to which the car was

repurchased and Ray was provided with a replacement vehicle. Ray’s original car was then repaired and sold at auction to Hickory. As part of that transaction, Hickory was

furnished with a disclosure notice which affirmatively disclosed that the subject vehicle was a repurchased vehicle, that it had been repurchased as a settlement of a

Customer Arbitration Board case, and that it had experienced water leaks. The sufficiency of the notice is not contested. Hickory acknowledged receipt of the disclosure

notice but failed to pass the disclosure on to the Alexanders. Had the Alexanders received the disclosure notice, they would not have purchased the vehicle.

{8} The Alexanders still own their vehicle and have driven it for over 80,000 miles. Periodically they have experienced water leaks. Some of those leaks were repaired

by Hickory at no cost, and the Alexanders ignored other repairs because the car was out of warranty. They have paid repair bills of $575 for problems unrelated to water

leaking. Most of those problems arose after the 80,000-mile mark. When the car was returned to Hickory for water leak repairs, no disclosure was made to the Alexanders

about the prior problems.

{9} The 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan subsequently purchased by Sharon Bell Rich was originally sold to Maureen Cherry in July 1995. In July 1997 DaimlerChrysler

repurchased the vehicle as a result of Ms. Cherry’s complaints that a drift condition was causing the car to pull to the left when moving; the vehicle’s total mileage was a

little over 26,000 miles at the time. After repurchase, DaimlerChrysler repaired the vehicle and sold it at auction to YSU Automotive, d/b/a Shelby Chrysler Plymouth Jeep

Eagle, Inc. (“YSU”). As a part of that transaction DaimlerChrysler affirmatively disclosed that it had repurchased the vehicle under consumer warranty laws due to a “Drift

Condition.” YSU acknowledged receipt of that notice. Sufficiency of the notice is not contested.

{10} The sales transaction involving Ms. Rich’s purchase of the vehicle is subject to various interpretations depending on whose version is credited. At this stage of the

proceedings, there is evidence from which a jury may conclude that Ms. Rich was reeled in by the salesman and was on the hook by actually signing a contract before any

disclosure was made to her concerning the correct history of the vehicle. YSU was helping her obtain financing. Her “out,” according to the defendants, was a clause in the

financing agreement that she signed which granted her the right to cancel the agreement if she had been defrauded.

II. A. {11} Chapter 20 Article 15A of the North Carolina General Statutes is captioned “New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act.” The purpose of Article 15A is to provide remedies against manufacturers for persons injured when new motor vehicles fail to conform to express warranties. {12} New motor vehicles are specifically defined as follows: "New motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle for which a certificate of origin, as required by G.S. 20-52.1 or a similar requirement in another state, has never been supplied to a

{13} The statutory scheme is fairly simple on its face and not dissimilar to lemon laws in other states. [1] Section 20.351.2 of the North Carolina General Statutes requires that manufacturers’ express warranties remain in effect for 12 months or 12,000 miles. If a new motor vehicle does not conform to the express warranties and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent, or its authorized dealer during that initial period, then the manufacturer must repair the new vehicle to conform to the warranties. {14} Section 20-351.3(a) provides that if the defects cannot be repaired and “substantially impair the value of the motor vehicle to the consumer,” the manufacturer must honor one of two options given to the consumer/purchaser. The purchaser may accept a comparable new motor vehicle or return the purchased vehicle and accept a refund, the composition of which is specifically set forth in the statute. {15} N.C.G.S. § 20-351.3(b) applies when the consumer is a lessee and provides the same two options available to the purchaser. The refund, however, is composed of different elements: Subsection (b) includes remedies for the lessor in addition to the lessee, in recognition of the fact that in a lease situation where the lessor (owner) is a financial institution, both the lessor and the lessee may be injured by the failure to repair the vehicle to conform to the express warranty. {16} Both subsections (a) and (b) tie the statutory remedies to defects or conditions that occur no later than 24 months or 24,000 miles following original delivery of the new vehicle. {17} N.C.G.S. § 20-351.3(c) provides for a reduction of refunds required under subsections (a) and (b), based upon a reasonable allowance for use by the purchaser or lessee. The method of calculating the reasonable allowance is set forth in this subsection. {18} When a motor vehicle has been returned to a manufacturer, its agent, or authorized dealer under Article 15A or a similar statute in another state, and the vehicle is subsequently resold, the reselling manufacturer, its agent, or authorized dealer must disclose to the subsequent purchaser (1) that the motor vehicle was repurchased under Article 15A and (2) the defects or conditions which substantially impaired the value. This disclosure must take place “prior to the sale.” N.C.G.S. § 20-351.3(d) (1987). {19} Subsection (d)(2) contains a sentence that merits a separate paragraph. It reads: “Any subsequent purchaser who purchases the motor vehicle for resale with notice of the return, shall make the required disclosures to any person to whom he resells the motor vehicle.” This sentence represents the legislative effort to prevent lemon laundering. It places upon each reseller (other than a consumer) the duty to make the required disclosure to the next purchaser. This sentence does not impose vicarious or strict liability, but limits the duty to those “with notice of the return.” Subsection (d) makes no reference to new motor vehicles—only motor vehicles. While clearly recognizing that the returned vehicle may be repaired and resold, the subsection attaches a disclosure requirement along the resale chain. First, any manufacturer, its agent, or authorized dealer who accepts a motor vehicle return and resells it must disclose as required by the statute. Any subsequent purchaser for resale who has notice of the return must make the required disclosure to the next purchaser of the vehicle. This statutory scheme recognizes the following commercial realities: 1. It is economically inefficient to require destruction of the vehicles. 2. It is unfair to permit repair and resale without disclosure of the past history. 3. Returned vehicles have a reduced value on the market if their history is disclosed. 4. The vehicles will be resold as used cars and most likely will find their way through a wholesale chain, including auto auctions, before reaching a consumer again. {20} The statute therefore requires the manufacturer, its agent, or authorized dealer who first accepts return to start the disclosure, and requires each subsequent purchaser for resale to continue the disclosure down the distribution chain until the returned vehicle reaches a consumer purchaser or lessee with notice. The disclosure requirement ends with that consumer purchaser or lessee. {21} Each reseller giving notice bears the economic consequences that the notice carries with it: i.e., reduced market value. In this case, DaimlerChrysler gave notice at each auction and presumably received a price commensurate with the disclosure that the resale vehicle was a returned vehicle. It is the reseller who does not make the required disclosure who stands to receive a value greater than true market value. It is that conduct—lemon laundering—which subsection (d) of section 20-351.3 attempts to prevent. {22} To this point, the statute is clear and unambiguous. It requires new motor vehicle manufacturers to honor their warranties and requires them to accept return of new vehicles with defects which cannot be repaired and provide either a comparable new vehicle or the statutory refund. When a vehicle is returned, the manufacturer must not only provide the next purchaser a notice that the vehicle being sold is a returned vehicle but also identify any defect that caused the return. Each subsequent purchaser for resale must pass that disclosure on to the next purchaser. {23} The Attorney General is authorized to bring a civil action in the name of the State if he finds that any provisions of Article 15A have been violated by the manufacturer. N.C.G.S. § 20-351.6. {24} The next three sections of the statute create the ambiguity in this case. Section 20-351.7 provides that a “consumer injured by reason of any violation of the provisions of this Article may bring a civil action against the manufacturer. ” (Emphasis added.) Section 20-351.9 specifically provides that Article 15A “does not create any cause of action by a consumer against an authorized dealer” and prohibits claims by manufacturers against a dealer unless the dealer has failed to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when doing warranty repairs.

{25} The civil action may be filed by the consumer against the manufacturer only after giving the manufacturer ten days’ notice of his or her intention to file suit; manufacturers may avail themselves of informal settlement procedures authorized under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 USC § 2301 et seq. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is the federal law that governs consumer product warranties. Passed by Congress in 1975, the Act requires manufacturers and sellers of consumer products to provide consumers with detailed information about warranty coverage. In addition, it affects both the rights of consumers and the obligations of warrantors under written warranties. 17 Am. Jur. 2d Consumer Product Warranty Acts § 1 (2003).

{26} When read in conjunction with the attorney fee provisions in 20-351.8(2), section 20-351.7 evidences the Legislature’s intent to avoid unnecessary litigation by requiring consumers to give notice of their claims so that manufacturers can resolve them— including use of required informal settlement procedures—before incurring litigation costs. If manufacturers do not react reasonably, they are subject to treble damages and attorney fees. N.C.G.S. § 20-351.8(2), (3)(a) and (b). {27} The remedies section contained in Section 20-351.8 provides for injunctive relief and monetary damages and specifies that in assessing damages the jury may consider all items listed for refund under section 20-351.3. The Court notes here that while the North Carolina Pattern Jury instructions contain instructions for damages in the event of a breach of the warranty provisions, they contain no instructions on damages for failure to give the required notice on resale. N.C.P.I. CIV. § 745.07 (Gen. Civ. Vol. 1999). The remedies section is directed toward the failure to honor the warranty obligations. It does not directly address a remedy for the failure to comply with the disclosure requirements. {28} Plaintiffs would have the Court interpret Article 15A to impose upon manufacturers liability for the failure of a subsequent purchaser-for-resale—who has received the required manufacturer’s disclosure regarding a returned vehicle—to make the same required disclosure to a consumer to whom the returned vehicle is ultimately resold. The gravaman of plaintiffs’ complaint is not that DaimlerChrysler failed to provide the notice of disclosure required of it by the statute but that it failed to insure or guarantee that each subsequent purchaser for resale fulfill its obligation of disclosure contained in Section 20-351.3(d)(2). Plaintiffs claim that DaimlerChrysler is strictly liable under the statute for the failure of its authorized dealers to provide disclosure on resale. That contention will be dealt with below. Plaintiffs also contend that Article 15A provides a statutory cause of action for consumers against dealers when the dealers fail to give the required notice. {29} Article 15A specifically reserves to consumers any other rights or remedies available to them under other laws. N.C.G.S. § 20-351.10. {30} In interpreting legislation, the courts must first look to the specific language and purpose of the statute. In interpreting legislation, however, it is also sometimes useful to look at the legislative approach to similar problems, both within and outside the state. In that regard, this Court has surveyed other state lemon laws and lemon laundering laws. It has also examined the remedies adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly in dealing with the resale of damaged and flooded vehicles, where the Legislature was attempting to protect the consumer in the automobile market. N.C.G.S. § 20-71.4 is instructive in that it evidences the General Assembly’s knowledge of the existence of a different device to protect consumers. It requires that certain vehicles use a title and registration card that discloses on its face that the vehicle fits a certain category, i.e., “flood vehicle.”

{31} The laws of other states vary, sometimes dramatically, in their approach to lemon laws and lemon laundering laws.[2]

{32} DaimlerChrysler has not escaped the attention of both public and private attorneys general in other states.[3] {33} South Carolina, where the Plaintiffs Williams purchased their vehicle, has a statute very similar to North Carolina’s statute. It does not create a cause of action

against a dealer for failure to disclose; it does impose a $500 administrative penalty. [4] {34} While North Carolina’s Lemon Law neither provides a cause of action against dealers nor provides a remedy specifically directed at failure to disclose the information required on resale of a returned vehicle, it evidences a clear and unmistakable public policy prohibiting lemon laundering and protecting consumers from unknowingly purchasing returned vehicles. As will be more fully discussed below, failure to comply with the statutory disclosure requirement is a prima facie unfair trade practice. {35} DaimlerChrysler only sells repurchased vehicles to its own authorized dealers at auction, never to consumers. From 1996 to March 2002 it sold some 52,000 repurchased vehicles that way nationwide. It has engaged the services of an outside vendor to accomplish the resales. Thus, the potential for deception of the consuming public exists if dealers do not provide the required disclosure. Also, the failure to require extensive record keeping so that the repurchased vehicles can be subsequently identified contributes to the lack of protection of consumers. Clearly, there are actions the Legislature could take to strengthen consumer protection in this area. B.

{36} The Court next turns to a consideration of the causes of action asserted in the Amended Complaint.[5] Plaintiffs specifically assert three causes of action in the Amended Complaint—negligence, unfair trade practices and punitive damages— and took the position at oral argument that an additional cause of action was asserted for remedies provided by the statute. The Court will address the last issue first. {37} The Amended Complaint does not contain any separate cause of action delineated as a claim for relief based upon North Carolina’s Lemon Law, nor does the prayer for relief contain a request for a statutorily provided remedy. It does contain other specific causes of action clearly labeled. The Amended Complaint even omits the “Notice” contained in the original complaint, paragraph 99, that a cause of action would be asserted under the statute. The reason no cause of action is asserted seems obvious. Plaintiffs are not seeking the statutory remedy for DaimlerChrysler’s failure to honor a new car warranty. They claim only that DaimlerChrysler is liable for the dealer’s failure to make the required statutory disclosure. Since the statute specifically disavows creation of a cause of action against dealers and provides no remedy for failure to disclose by a manufacturer, no claim for relief under the statute could be asserted. To the extent the Amended Complaint could be read to allege that DaimlerChrysler failed in its duty to make disclosure to the first subsequent purchaser, the uncontroverted evidence is that DaimlerChrysler made the required disclosure to the first subsequent purchaser from DaimlerChrysler. Summary Judgment for DaimlerChrysler is appropriate if that is the claim. {38} Next plaintiffs assert a negligence claim against both DaimlerChrysler and the dealer that sold or leased the returned vehicle. The claim against the dealer asserts that plaintiffs may recover in tort for the dealer’s failure to make the required disclosure. With respect to DaimlerChrysler, the negligence cause of action is based upon an alleged failure by DaimlerChrysler to insure that all subsequent resellers of a vehicle returned to DaimlerChrysler made the statutorily required disclosure. In paragraph 62 of the class action complaint, plaintiffs alleged they suffered similar economic losses and damages. The Amended Complaint, paragraph 62, only alleges plaintiffs “have been damaged.” As articulated by plaintiffs’ counsel at oral argument, plaintiffs claim to have paid full value for vehicles that were worthless because they were returned vehicles. {39} The next cause of action asserted by plaintiffs is based upon N.C.G.S. § 75-1.1, North Carolina’s Unfair Trade Practices Statute. Under this cause of action, plaintiffs assert that the dealer who sold them a returned vehicle without making the required disclosure committed an unfair trade practice when it did so. Plaintiffs assert that DaimlerChrysler is vicariously responsible for that act whether committed by its authorized dealer or another dealer. {40} Finally, plaintiffs assert a cause of action for punitive damages. It appears from the face of the Amended Complaint that the claim for punitive damages is based upon either a claim that the negligence amounts to gross negligence or that the failure to provide the statutorily mandated disclosure constitutes fraud, thus supporting a punitive damage claim. Again, DaimlerChrysler’s liability is based upon the dealer’s conduct. {41} The only other allegations in “Count III - Punitive Damages” are allegations that in other unspecified cases DaimlerChrysler had engaged in unspecified acts of misconduct, had flouted the rules of court and valid court orders and had been subsequently sanctioned for that conduct. III. {42} Having examined the North Carolina Lemon Law, other statutory mechanisms to protect consumers in automobile purchases, other states’ lemon laws, and the allegations of the Amended Complaint, the Court turns to the specific pending motions. The Court will address issues common to all plaintiffs first and then address issues specific to each plaintiff. Since DaimlerChrysler and defendant dealers have filed separate motions, their positions will be addressed separately, although there is some overlap in the issues.

A. 1. {43} DaimlerChrysler has moved for summary judgment on all claims asserted against it. It has also filed a Rule 12(b)(6) motion on the class allegations. (The Court need not rule on that motion since those allegations are being withdrawn.) At the heart of the dispute between plaintiffs and DaimlerChrysler is the proper interpretation of the duties imposed upon a manufacturer under this state’s lemon law. {44} Plaintiffs contend that the lemon law imposes a duty on the manufacturer of a returned vehicle to see that the vehicle is never resold without complying with the disclosure requirements in the statute. Counsel for plaintiffs argued that the Court could fashion an equitable remedy that required manufacturers to come up with a system to insure that subsequent purchasers of returned vehicles did not resell them without disclosure. Plaintiffs’ counsel, moreover, urged the Court to find a way to affix the disclosure notice to every car so that no consumer even negotiated for the sale of the car without knowing its history. Plaintiffs contend that DaimlerChrysler’s disclosure when it sold returned vehicles to the first subsequent purchaser (usually at an auto auction) was simply insufficient to fulfill its statutory duty. In essence, plaintiffs would hold DaimlerChrysler strictly liable for the failure of any subsequent purchaser to provide the statutory disclosure notice. Otherwise, plaintiffs argue, manufacturers will give the first notice and simply sit back and watch their dealers or other dealers fail to pass the notice on, and North Carolina will become the dumping ground for all returned vehicles in the United States. {45} DaimlerChrysler contends that the record clearly establishes that it gave the required statutory notice when it first sold the vehicles purchased or leased by a plaintiff. That fact is uncontroverted. DaimlerChrysler also contends that, having given notice to the first subsequent purchaser, it fulfilled its obligation under the statute and has no statutory duty to insure that subsequent purchasers for resale continue to pass on the required notice. The Court also notes that it is undisputed on this record that DaimlerChrysler contractually requires its dealers to comply with state lemon laws and has a procedure for its dealers to follow which would validate compliance with the disclosure requirements of various lemon laws, including that of North Carolina. Busacca Aff., March 7, 2004. It is DaimlerChrysler’s position, however, that it is not required by statute to take those actions. It is equally clear from this record that (1) DaimlerChrysler dealers do not always fulfill their obligations to DaimlerChrysler or obligations prescribed by state statutes and (2) DaimlerChrysler has no means to control other dealers who resell returned vehicles. {46} The statute as written does not impose upon manufacturers the duty to insure that every reseller passes on the disclosure notice, nor does it provide that manufacturers are strictly liable when their authorized dealers fail to make the required disclosure. The manufacturer’s obligation under the statute as it is currently written is to make the required disclosure to the first subsequent purchaser for resale. If the manufacturer’s agent or authorized dealer accepts the car on return under the statute and resells it, the agent or authorized dealer must make the disclosure to the next subsequent purchaser for resale. Any purchaser for resale who has notice of the returned vehicle status must make the statutorily mandated disclosure. This is the requirement that the statute provides in plain, clearly understandable English. {47} Were this Court to read into the statute either a strict liability provision or a requirement that manufacturers insure compliance with the law by their authorized dealers, the Court would be legislating, not adjudicating. If the General Assembly had desired to impose strict liability, it could have said so. If it had intended to require manufacturers to take action against their authorized dealers, it could have done so. If it had desired to provide ultimate protection to consumers, it could have provided for a branded title as it has done in other instances and as other states have done. See paragraph 30, above. It elected not to do so. Clearly, a branded title is the ultimate protection but one that is beyond the control of manufacturers. For whatever reason, our legislature decided against adopting a branded title system for returned vehicles under this statute. {48} Does the Court’s interpretation of the statute mean that manufacturers have no duty under the lemon law? Clearly not. Manufacturers must make the disclosure to the subsequent purchaser or they will violate the clear mandate of the statute; the statute expressly provides that either the consumer or the Attorney General can bring a civil action for redress of that violation. The statute fails to specify the precise remedy attached to that violation. The remedies provided appear to be directed at the failure to provide the required warranties. However, the statutory scheme provides some guidance to the courts on the damages allowed and could be interpreted to provide for treble damages for a knowing violation. The Court need not reach that issue because it is not called for at this time, but it is the statutory deficiency that the Legislature could address promptly. {49} Does the Court’s interpretation mean that North Carolina will become a dumping ground for returned vehicles where they can be sold without disclosure? Clearly not. Manufacturers have under the statute an obligation that is enforceable by civil remedy. Dealers have an obligation. As will be more clearly set out below, any dealer who fails to fulfill the disclosure requirements set forth in the statute may be subject to an unfair trade practice claim, including treble damages and attorney fees. While that combination may not provide the same protection of a branded title, it is up to the Legislature to adopt such a system of control. {50} For now, the General Assembly has adopted a law that is clear in most respects. If the law needs to be strengthened, the General Assembly should undertake that task. It is not the court’s function to rewrite legislation to make it better. 2. {51} The defendant dealers are in a different position than DaimlerChrysler. The statute was clearly designed to impose certain obligations on manufacturers with respect to warranties on new automobiles. It is directed to manufacturers and specifically says that it does not create a cause of action against dealers. There is therefore no cause of action created against dealers and no civil remedy provided for a dealer’s failure to do anything required by the statute. The disclosure provisions of the statute impose upon dealers the obligation to fulfill the statutory requirements for notice when that they know they are reselling a returned vehicle. The statute evidences an unmistakable public policy against the laundering of returned vehicles without disclosure. The expression of that unmistakable public policy has implications for other causes of action, and the statute specifically provides that it is not meant to usurp other remedies or causes of action. In summary, the Court finds that the Amended Complaint does not on its face assert a cause of action against the dealers under the statute and that the statute does not create such a cause of action. 3. {52} While the Court’s ruling on the application of the lemon law to the claims in this case disposes of those claims, the Court, in order to be complete in its treatment of the issues, will address one other defect in any statutory claim contained in the Amended Complaint. It is undisputed that plaintiffs did not give any notice under the statute at least ten days prior to filing suit. The class action complaint contained a statement in bold type capital letters: “Plaintiffs demand a trial on all issues of fact so triable. Please take notice that this complaint constitutes notice under North Carolina General Statute section 20-351.7 and other similar state statutes that lemon law claims will be brought against you.” Complaint ¶ 99. {53} At oral argument, plaintiffs’ counsel stated that the notice in the complaint was the only notice given; plaintiffs’ counsel also expressed belief that the statute should be interpreted to permit filing of suit, and at that time any defendant would have ten days to try to resolve the dispute with the vehicle owner. If the General Assembly had intended to permit the notice to be contained in a complaint it could have so provided. The language and intent of the statutory scheme is clear, unambiguous, and founded on sound public policy. A consumer may bring a civil action against a manufacturer “provided, however, the consumer has given the manufacturer written notice of his intent to bring an action against the manufacturer at least 10 days prior to filing such suit.” N.C.G.S. § 20-351.7 (emphasis added). It is impossible to read the statutory language in any way other than to require the ten days’ notice. It is there because the General Assembly provided in the next sentence that manufacturers could utilize informal settlement procedures to avoid litigation, including the cost and expenses incurred by consumers and manufacturers in the litigation process. Taking such lawsuits —where the legal expense could well exceed any recovery—out of the litigation process is sound public policy. Where the General Assembly specifically creates a process requiring demand notice prior to filing suit it does so for sound policy reasons; the courts should therefore not permit counsel to ignore the statutory requirement. See, e.g., Greene v. Shoemaker, 1998 NCBC 4 ¶¶ 21-25 (No. 97 CVS 2118, Wilkes County Super. Ct. August 24, 1998) (Tennille, J.).

{54} From Mr. Alexander’s statements [6] it appears that punishment, not resolution of claims, was the motivation for filing this lawsuit. Failure to follow a statutorily required notice process before filing suit constitutes ground for dismissal. In this case plaintiffs have asserted other causes of action that do not require the ten-day notice, and it is unclear whether they have filed a claim under the statute at all. To the extent the Complaint or Amended Complaint could be read to assert a cause of action under the statute, such a cause of action is subject to dismissal for failure to comply with the notice requirement of the statute. B. {55} Plaintiffs’ First Claim against DaimlerChrysler and the dealers sounds in tort. The negligence alleged as to DaimlerChrysler is its failure to insure that its dealers complied with their statutory obligation to give notice that they were selling a returned vehicle. The alleged negligence of the dealers is failing to give the statutory notice. Plaintiffs seek to recover economic damages against both. Specifically, counsel contended in oral argument that each plaintiff purchased or leased a vehicle that was essentially worthless from a resale perspective. In this case there is no claim that any plaintiff received any personal injury related to a defect that was not, but should have been, disclosed. A situation involving personal injury resulting from undisclosed defects would present different issues than those before the Court. At issue in this case are economic damages. {56} Plaintiffs’ negligence claim against DaimlerChrysler fails for two reasons. First, it has established no duty owed by DaimlerChrysler to consumers to police the actions of its dealers if DaimlerChrysler itself complies with its statutory disclosure requirements. North Carolina, like most other states, has created a statutory remedy for consumers who purchase automobiles with defects that cannot be cured within the warranty provided by the manufacturer. It adopted a specific disclosure requirement for manufacturers and dealers to address the problem of lemon laundering. Although it could have done so, North Carolina neither placed a duty on the manufacturers to police disclosures by dealers nor adopted a title-branding system to protect consumers. Without a duty to police the actions of its dealers, DaimlerChrysler could not be negligent in failing to do so. The imposition of liability on manufacturers for failing to control disclosures at every level of the distribution chain goes beyond the scope of the statute. {57} Secondly, North Carolina is among those states which have adopted the “economic loss” rule preventing the recovery of economic losses under a tort theory. The application of the economic loss rule forecloses a tort recovery for purely economic damages against both DaimlerChrysler and the dealers. North Carolina bars recovery for economic loss in tort and adjudicates such claims under contract law. Moore v. Coachmen Indus. Inc. , 129 N.C. App. 389, 401-402, 499 S.E.2d 772, 780 (1989); see also Ports Authority v. Roofing Co., 294 N.C. 73, 240 S.E.2d 345 (1978). The economic loss rule prohibits the purchaser from using tort law to recover economic losses. Moore, 129 N.C. App. at 401, 499 S.E.2d at 780. The economic loss rule prohibits recovery in tort unless the plaintiff asserts that the defective product caused physical injury or property damage. See Reece v. Homette Corp., 110 N.C. App. 462, 466-67, 429 S.E.2d 770 (1993). {58} Plaintiffs have not asserted any contract or breach of warranty claims. The Court, therefore, need not address the nature of such contractual claims except to note that a failure to disclose may well form the basis for a breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing. A simple breach of contract does not in and of itself give rise to an unfair trade practice or a claim for punitive damages. Branch Banking & Trust Co. v. Thompson , 107 N.C. App. 53, 62, 418 S.E.2d 694, 700 (1992). A contract claim would provide damages for economic loss, which is what plaintiffs really seek to recover in this case. C. {59} The Court next turns to a consideration of the claims asserted against the defendants under the Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practice statute, N.C.G.S. § 75-1.1 et seq. The failure to disclose information in connection with a consumer transaction that a state statute specifically designed to protect consumers’ mandates is about as clear an unfair trade practice as can exist. The North Carolina Lemon Law evidences a clear and unmistakable public policy against lemon laundering. A manufacturer or reseller who takes title with notice of the nature of vehicle and the defects disclosed commits an unfair and deceptive trade practice when it resells the vehicle, either to a consumer or another wholesaler, without passing the notice along to the subsequent purchaser; such an act is both unfair and deceptive. It falls squarely within the definition our appellate courts have used for unfair and deceptive practices under the statute: In determining whether a representation is deceptive, its effect on the average consumer is considered. Opsahl v. Pinehurst, 81 N.C. App. 56, 69, 344 S.E.2d 68, 76 (1986). Conduct is unfair or deceptive if it has the capacity or tendency to deceive. The Act does not precisely define the term unfair or deceptive trade practices, and neither is such a definition possible. Rather the surrounding facts of the transaction and the impact on the marketplace determine if the transaction is unfair or deceptive….

Canady v. Mann, 102 N.C. 252, 260, 419 S.E.2d 597, 602 (1992).

{60} In this case, DaimlerChrysler made the disclosure required by the statute. No claim for unfair and deceptive trade practices against DaimlerChrysler for failure to fulfill its own requirements under the statute can survive, nor is there any basis for holding it vicariously liable for any act of an independent DaimlerChrysler dealer for failure of the dealer to make disclosure to a subsequent purchaser. {61} DaimlerChrysler is entitled to summary judgment on the unfair and deceptive trade practice claims of plaintiffs. {62} Defendants YSU and Hickory Automall Chrysler Plymouth both appear to have failed to give the disclosure required by the statute to the Alexanders and Ms. Rich as required by the statute. Plaintiffs have made out a prima facie case against those defendants for commission of an unfair and deceptive trade practice. Damages may be trebled and plaintiffs may recover their attorney fees if they prevail on those claims and such fees are otherwise assessable under the statute. Factual issues remain to be tried in those cases as is more fully discussed below. {63} Article 15A specifically provides that it does not preclude any other claims which might exist under other statutes and thus does not usurp the unfair and deceptive trade practice statute in any way. The existence of an unfair trade practice claim is a deterrent to dealer conduct which violates the public policy contained in the lemon law. The policy is clear, even though the remedies provided may be less clear.

IV.

{64} The Court will next address the individual claims and the defenses asserted to them. A. {65} The Millers have settled with the local dealership. Their only remaining claims are against DaimlerChrysler. Those claims are subject to dismissal for the reasons set forth above. The Millers’ status as lessees rather than purchasers would not have defeated their claim for an unfair trade practice. The fact that they chose to purchase the leased vehicle at the end of the lease term with knowledge that it was a returned vehicle would have raised issues of mitigation of damages and other defenses that the Court need not address because the claims against the local dealer have been resolved. It is certainly questionable that the Millers could have recovered for diminished value of the purchased vehicle when they purchased with knowledge of its history. B. {66} Plaintiffs Williams’ claim against DaimlerChrysler is subject to dismissal for the reasons stated above. Moreover, their claim suffers from additional deficiencies. At least one of the sales in their line of title was to a consumer, Ms. Tilley, who had no obligation under the statute to pass on any disclosure given to her, thus ending the chain of disclosure under the statutory scheme. (This is another area in which the Legislature could clarify and improve the statute.) Nor is there any evidence in the record that any DaimlerChrysler dealer had any involvement with a transaction after the Marburger sale. Further, the Williamses’ claims would be barred by the applicable statutes of limitation. They were aware of the history of the vehicle more than three years prior to filing suit. Their negligence, lemon law and unfair trade practice claims would be

governed by South Carolina law and barred by the applicable three year statutes of limitation.[7] It is also questionable whether this vehicle was one for which a disclosure had to be made, but the Court need not decide the motion on that basis. C. {67} The Alexanders’ claims against DaimlerChrysler are subject to dismissal for the reasons stated above. DaimlerChrysler fulfilled all its obligations to the Alexanders. Hickory Automall did not. While the negligence and punitive damage claims against Hickory are subject to dismissal for the reasons set forth above, the unfair trade practice claim survives. There are genuine issues of material fact with respect to damages which must be determined by a jury. D. {68} Ms. Rich’s claims against DaimlerChrysler are subject to dismissal for the reasons stated above. DaimlerChrysler fulfilled all it obligations to her. YSU did not. At the least, material factual issues exist which prevent granting summary judgment to either party. The evidence presented by Ms. Rich would support a finding that an unfair trade practice had occurred. If no disclosure was made to her until after she had signed the contract and the salesman came to her office and demanded that she sign the disclosure form while her financing was still pending, YSU would be liable for an unfair trade practice. YSU had her on the hook and did not make the disclosure to her until a time when it would be difficult for her or any purchaser to walk away from a signed agreement. {69} While there are factual issues to be resolved on the claim, YSU is not entitled to summary judgment. Making the required disclosure after a contract has been signed will not eliminate a claim for unfair trade practices. A contrary ruling would provide car dealers with the opportunity to pressure unknowing purchasers who had already signed a contract and would be an unfair advantage to the dealers. It would run contrary to the public policy clearly enunciated in the statute. The issue of causation of damages is one for the jury. YSU is not entitled to summary judgment on that issue.

V.

{70} The New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act, N.C.G.S. § 20-351 et seq., is not a model of clarity. The statute is sufficiently clear to establish that the duty of a manufacturer of a repurchased vehicle is to adequately disclose the history of the vehicle to the next purchaser. Each purchaser in the chain is required to make that disclosure until the vehicle is sold to a consumer. No obligation attaches to a consumer under the statute. Manufacturers are not required by the statute to do anything more than make the original disclosure to the next purchaser. In reality, most of the vehicles will be sold at auction to dealers who have the obligation to pass the disclosure to the next purchaser. If they do not do so, they commit an unfair and deceptive trade practice. There is no cause of action created against dealers under Article 15A. {71} The application of the unfair trade practice statute fits the economic reality of the situation. Manufacturers control warranties. Dealers control the sale of used cars. If manufacturers provide the disclosure in the first resale, the burden to protect the consumer shifts to the dealer. The person who profits illegally is the first one that fails to make the disclosure. He or she gets an unfairly high price and thus is the party to be penalized for failing to make the disclosure. Application of the treble damage provisions and attorney fee provisions of Chapter 75 should deter unlawful conduct. Dealers would pay DaimlerChrysler for the vehicles purchased at auction a price commensurate with the history of the vehicle. {72} Should the Legislature address the ambiguities in Article 15A, it could consider making manufacturers vicariously liable for their dealers’ actions, requiring manufacturers to trace repurchased vehicles, requiring manufacturers and dealers to maintain records on repurchased vehicles for longer periods of time, extending warranties on items causing repurchase, an administrative penalty, branding the cars in some way, and requiring notice before filing an unfair trade practice claim against a dealer. Those are just some of the ways in which the legislation might be changed. It is clearly worth some legislative effort to clarify the statute and provide a greater deterrent.

VI. {73} Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 1-83, Defendants YSU Automotive and Hickory Automall seek to transfer venue to counties that are more convenient to the parties. When the trial court finds that the convenience of the witnesses and the end of justice are promoted by a change of venue then the trial court has the discretion to order such a change of venue. Godley Constr. Constr. Co. v. McDaniel, 40 N.C. App. 605, 253 S.E.2d 359 (1979). {74} In the case at hand, Plaintiffs Rich and Alexander reside in counties located in the western section of North Carolina. Defendants YSU Automotive and Hickory Automall are also located in western counties of North Carolina. Plaintiffs originally filed the case in Wake County, as DaimlerChrysler’s registered agent for conducting business in the state is located in that county. The location of the registered agent has no effect on the convenience of a venue for the remaining claims. If venue remained in Wake County then the parties would have to travel across the state during trial instead of adjudicating the matter in a forum within a short distance of their home. With the other defendants dismissed, the only remaining connection with Wake County is the residence of one of plaintiffs’ counsel. {75} N.C.G.S. § 1-82 provides that a case must be tried in a county in which the plaintiffs or defendants reside at the commencement of the case. YSU Automotive is located in Cleveland County and Plaintiff Rich, who has a claim against that business, is a resident of that same county. Hickory Automall is located in Catawba County, but Plaintiff Alexander, who has a claim against that dealership, is a resident of Cleveland County. The parties resided in the same counties at the commencement of the case. Given the residency of the parties with claims involving YSU Automotive and Hickory Automall, the Court finds the venue should be changed to counties that are more convenient for the parties. In the matter involving Plaintiff Rich and YSU Automotive, the venue shall be changed to Rich’s residence of Cleveland County. In the matter involving Plaintiffs Alexander and Defendant Hickory Automall, the venue for the case shall be changed to the Alexanders’ residence of Cleveland County. {76} The two cases will be bifurcated for trial and separate amended complaints filed in each action, with only those claims against the one defendant alleged in each case. {77} Numerous other motions were pending by DaimlerChrysler and Auto USA. Those motions are moot as a result of the Court’s ruling.

It is, therefore, ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED: 1. Summary Judgment is granted in favor of DaimlerChrysler Corporation and DaimlerChrysler Motors Corporation on all claims in the Amended Complaint, and those claims are dismissed. 2. Summary Judgment is granted in favor of Hickory Automall Chrysler Plymouth, Inc. and YSU Automotive, Inc. on the negligence and punitive damage claims asserted against them by Tony W. Alexander and Sarah M. Alexander and Sharon Bell Rich. To the extent the Amended Complaint can be read to assert claims against the dealers under Article 15A, those claims are dismissed also. 3. Summary Judgment is denied on the unfair and deceptive trade practice claims asserted against Hickory Automall Chrysler Plymouth, Inc. by the Alexanders and the unfair and deceptive trade practice claims asserted against YSU Automotive, Inc. by Sharon Bell Rich. 4. The remaining parties shall enter into mediation within sixty days of the entry of this order.

So Ordered this 30th day of January 2004.

[1] See e.g., Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790-1795.8(2003); S.C. Code Ann. § 56-28-10 (2000); Angela M. Burdine, Review of Selected 1993 Consumer Protection; Lemon Law Buyback, 27 Pac. L.J. 508 (1996) (discussing a collection of the approaches by various states regarding the return and resale of vehicles). [2] See supra note 1. [3] See Burdine, supra note 1 at 516 n.35; see also Johnson v. Decker Ford, Inc., No. 647076-9 (Fresno Co., Calif. Super. Ct. Dec. 17, 2001)(finding by jury for $10 million against Ford Motor Company for lemon laundering). [4] S.C. Code Ann. §56-28-110 (2000). [5] Since it is likely that plaintiffs will be permitted to amend their complaint to drop the class action allegations, the Court will consider the Amended Complaint, which asserts only the individual causes of action. [6] Deposition of Tony Alexander, November 8, 2001 page 87, 1-24. [7] S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-350 (2003); § 39-5-150 (2003).