Gentry v. Kelley Kar Co.

193 Cal. App. 2d 324, 14 Cal. Rptr. 121, 1961 Cal. App. LEXIS 1707
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 26, 1961
DocketCiv. No. 24920
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 193 Cal. App. 2d 324 (Gentry v. Kelley Kar Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gentry v. Kelley Kar Co., 193 Cal. App. 2d 324, 14 Cal. Rptr. 121, 1961 Cal. App. LEXIS 1707 (Cal. Ct. App. 1961).

Opinion

WOOD, P. J.

Plaintiffs Eugene and Ruth Gentry sought (1) damages for fraud in inducing them to execute a lease of an automobile, (2) damages for violation of section 2982, subdivision (a), of the Civil Code (failure to recite certain items in a conditional sale contract of an automobile, and failure to deliver a copy of the contract at the time of its execution), and (3) damages for a violation of section 2982, subdivision (c), of the Civil Code (limiting the amount of the time price differential under a conditional sale contract of an automobile). They also sought (1) to cancel the lease and a chattel mortgage and (2) to quiet title to the automobile and to the furniture referred to in the mortgage.

Plaintiffs George and Jessie Gentry (parents of Eugene Gentry) sought (1) to cancel a trust deed (executed by them as security for the lease) on the ground of fraud in inducing them to execute the deed; and (2) to quiet title to the property referred to in the deed.

[326]*326Defendant, in its answer, denied the allegations regarding fraud and violations of the code sections, and they alleged that the causes of action were barred by section 340, subdivision 1, of the Code of Civil Procedure. In a counterclaim defendant sought to offset against plaintiffs’ demands the depreciation in the value of the automobile resulting from its use by plaintiffs for a period of 17 months.

The court found that defendant falsely represented, as follows: That it would sell the Chevrolet automobile to Eugene and Ruth for the total purchase price of $2,570. That the monthly payments would be $76. That the purchase price included 1957 and 1958 license plates and “full coverage” insurance. That if plaintiffs Eugene and Ruth Gentry would “execute” certain documents (work sheet, leasing agreement, amendment to leasing agreement, and chattel mortgage), and if plaintiffs George and Jessie Gentry would execute the trust deed, defendant would “release” the chattel mortgage and trust deed when Eugene and Ruth had paid $1,300 “on the transaction” and defendant would “give plaintiffs a Conditional Sales Contract” covering said purchase.

There was also a finding that plaintiffs relied upon such representations.

The court also found that the lease was a conditional sale contract of an automobile and that the lease and other documents violated provisions of section 2982 of the Civil Code in that they were not prepared or delivered by defendant as required by said section, and that the lease and other documents violated the provisions of subdivision (e) of section 2982 of the Civil Code in that the amount payable under the lease exceeded the amount of the time price differential allowable under that subdivision.

The court also found that plaintiffs’ causes of action were not barred by subdivision 1 of section 340 of the Code of Civil Procedure; that plaintiffs were damaged in the amount of $1,639; that plaintiffs were entitled to punitive damages in the amount of $750; and that defendant was not entitled to an offset against plaintiffs’ demands.

The judgment was that the lease, chattel mortgage, and trust deed are void; that defendant had no interest in the furniture referred to in the chattel mortgage, and had no interest in the real property referred to in the trust deed; that Eugene and Ruth Gentry recover from defendant $1,639 general damages and $750 punitive damages; and that defendant take nothing by its counterclaim.

[327]*327Defendant appeals from the judgment.

Appellant contends that the evidence does not support the findings referred to above.

About April 7, 1957, plaintiffs Eugene and Ruth Gentry went to the place of business of defendant Kelley Kar Company, and Eugene told a salesman there that he wanted to trade his automobile (1951 Chrysler) in connection with the purchase of another automobile. After the salesman showed them several automobiles, they returned to their home and discussed the matter. On April 9 they returned to defendant’s place of business and selected a 1956 Chevrolet automobile. At that time they were accompanied by George and Jessie Gentry. From information furnished by Eugene, the salesman prepared a credit application. Eugene and Ruth signed the application, and Eugene gave a check for $25 as “down faith money.” On April 10 the salesman told Eugene by telephone that the Chrysler automobile was not a sufficient down payment, that Eugene’s credit was good, that the defendant company had arranged to obtain a loan for Eugene from the Imperial Thrift Company, and that Eugene’s parents would have to cosign with Eugene and Ruth in order to purchase the automobile. On April 12 the four plaintiffs returned to defendant’s place of business, and Eugene and Ruth signed and delivered certain documents to defendant. Those documents were as follows: a work sheet; a paper entitled, “Automobile Leasing Agreement”; a paper entitled, “Amendment to Automobile Leasing Agreement”; and a chattel mortgage. On that same day George and Jessie executed a trust deed as security for the lease. Also on that day, Eugene endorsed a $550 check, which he had received from the Imperial Thrift Company in return for a chattel mortgage on furniture. He delivered the check to defendant. Eugene and Ruth transferred to defendant their interest in the Chrysler automobile and took possession of the Chevrolet automobile. Defendant placed a dealer’s notice of sale on the window of the Chevrolet automobile. The notice was on a printed form entitled, “Purchaser’s Temporary Operating Copy.” The names “Eugene and Ruth Gentry” appeared thereon after the printed words, “Name of Purchaser,” and the signature of Eugene appeared after the printed words, “Signature of Purchaser.” About April 25, Eugene and Ruth received a policy of automobile insurance which had been obtained by defendant. In that policy, Eugene, Ruth, and Les Kelley Leasing Company were insured against loss of or [328]*328damage to the Chevrolet automobile for two years. It was stated therein that the automobile was purchased in April 1957, and that the cost was $2,345. The policy did not include coverage for public liability or property damage. The amount of the premium, as shown thereon, was $118. (It is to be noted that the work sheet stated that the insurance would include public liability and property damage, and that the premium would be $248.)

Subsequent to April 12, 1957, and prior to September 6, 1958, Eugene and Ruth paid $1,064 to defendant in monthly installments. On the date last mentioned, an attorney for plaintiffs notified defendant by letter that plaintiffs intended to rescind all documents executed by them in connection with the transaction and that plaintiffs offered to restore everything of value which they had received from defendant, and that said offer was made upon condition that defendant restore the consideration which it had received from plaintiffs. On September 6, 1958, plaintiffs commenced this action. On November 19, 1958, Eugene returned the Chevrolet automobile to defendant. On November 20 Kelley Finance Company sent to Eugene a “Notice of Intent to Sell Repossessed Motor Vehicle.” In that notice the company stated that “Default having been made under the terms and conditions of . . . [the lease agreement], and Seller having repossessed said motor vehicle,” notice was given that the company intended to sell the motor vehicle after the expiration of 7 days. It was also stated therein that Eugene might redeem the motor vehicle at any time prior to the sale upon the payment in full of the indebtedness evidenced “by said contract.”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
193 Cal. App. 2d 324, 14 Cal. Rptr. 121, 1961 Cal. App. LEXIS 1707, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gentry-v-kelley-kar-co-calctapp-1961.