Bailey v. Monaco Coach Corp.

350 F. Supp. 2d 1036, 55 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 539, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27251, 2004 WL 2956051
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedNovember 10, 2004
Docket1:04-cv-00040
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 350 F. Supp. 2d 1036 (Bailey v. Monaco Coach Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bailey v. Monaco Coach Corp., 350 F. Supp. 2d 1036, 55 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 539, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27251, 2004 WL 2956051 (N.D. Ga. 2004).

Opinion

*1039 ORDER

THRASH, District Judge.

This is an action for breach of warranty. It is before the Court on the Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 30], and the Plaintiffs Motion to Supplement his Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doe. 40], For the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS the Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment and GRANTS the Plaintiffs Motion to Supplement his Memorandum of Law.

I. BACKGROUND

On December 11, 2002, Plaintiff Richard Bailey purchased a Safari Sahara moto-rhome, manufactured by Defendant Monaco Coach Corporation, from, a Florida dealership. When Bailey purchased the motorhome, he received a copy of the “Safari Motorhome Limited Warranty.” The Limited Warranty states that it covers defects in the manufacture of the moto-rhome, and defects in the. materials used to manufacture the motorhome. (Def.’s Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J., Ex. 5.) However, the Limited Warranty also includes several exclusions and limitations. The duration of the warranty is limited to the first 12 months or first 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first. (Id.) The warranty limits a consumer’s remedy during this period to the repair or replacement of defective parts. (Id.) Additionally, the warranty states that the warrantor will not be liable for any consequential or incidental damages resulting from any defect in the motorhome. (Id.) Finally, in a section labeled “What the Warranty Does Not Cover,” the warranty limits the scope of the repair or replacement remedy by expressly excluding certain items or problems. This section states, in relevant part, that:

The' Limited Warranty does not cover...items that are working as designed but which you are unhappy with because of the design;- ...appliances and components covered by their own manufacturer’s warranty including, by way of example the microwave, refrigerator... generator...hydraulic jacks...or flaking, peeling and chips or other defects or damage in or to the exterior or finish caused by rocks or other road hazards ....

(Def.’s Br. in Supp. of Mot. for Summ. J., Ex. 5.)

Shortly after taking possession of the motorhome, Bailey began to experience a series of problems with the vehicle. He alleges that his motorhome has required service for the following defects: electrical system, brakes, exterior trim, interior trim, water pump, luggage doors, rear bumper, body, tail pipe, entry door, backup camera, driver seat, passenger seat, screen door, radiator, closet doors, compartment doors, sewer hose door, cabinets, drawers, dinette slide-out, rotting wood, stress cracks, generator, marker lights, awning, shore power system, furnace, leveling system, air conditioning system, transmission oil cooler, and reverse lights. (ComplY 13.) In all, Bailey’s motorhome has been serviced six times, for a total of 130 days out of service. (R. Bailey Aff. ¶ 3.)

Bailey alleges that he continues to suffer problems with his motorhome because Monaco Coach has failed to repair the numerous defects. Pursuant to the Mag-nuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq., Bailey asserts claims for breach of express and implied warranty. Monaco Coach moves for summary judgment on these claims.

II. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate only when the pleadings, -depositions, and affi *1040 davits submitted by the parties show that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The court should view the evidence and any inferences that may be drawn in the light most favorable to the nonmovant. Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 158-59, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970). The party seeking summary judgment must first identify grounds that show the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The burden then shifts to the nonmovant, who must go beyond the pleadings and present affirmative evidence to show that a genuine issue of material fact does exist. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 257, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).

III. DISCUSSION

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq., creates minimum disclosure and content requirements for certain consumer product warranties. Under the Act, consumers have a federal right of action against warrantors who fail “to comply with any obligation under ... a written warranty, implied warranty, or service contract.” 15 U.S.C. § 2310(d). The Act was intended to supplement, not supplant, state law. Therefore, unless the Act expressly prescribes a regulating rule, courts should apply state law to written and implied warranty claims made under the Act. Walsh v. Ford Motor Co., 807 F.2d 1000, 1012 (D.C.Cir.1986).

A. Breach of Express Warranty

Congress enacted the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act in order to “improve the adequacy of information available to consumers, prevent deception, and improve competition in the marketing of consumer products.” 15 U.S.C. § 2302(a). The Act does not require manufacturers to provide warranties. But, if a manufacturer chooses to provide a written warranty, certain duties and liabilities are imposed on the warrantor. 16 C.F.R. § 700.3. One such duty relates to the content of written warranties. The Act requires that a written warranty must “fully and conspicuously disclose in simple and readily understood language the terms and conditions of such warranty.” 15 U.S.C. § 2302(a). The Act delegates the promulgation of specific disclosure requirements to the Federal Trade Commission. 15 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(1)(A).

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Bluebook (online)
350 F. Supp. 2d 1036, 55 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 539, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27251, 2004 WL 2956051, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bailey-v-monaco-coach-corp-gand-2004.