Highsmith v. Chrysler Credit Corp.

150 B.R. 997, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1628, 1993 WL 52599
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedFebruary 10, 1993
Docket92 C 475
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 150 B.R. 997 (Highsmith v. Chrysler Credit Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Highsmith v. Chrysler Credit Corp., 150 B.R. 997, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1628, 1993 WL 52599 (N.D. Ill. 1993).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM, OPINION AND ORDER

ANDERSEN, District Judge.

This case is before the court on the motion of defendant Chrysler Credit Corporation (“Chrysler Credit”) to dismiss the amended complaint of plaintiffs Kelvin Highsmith, Marcita Highsmith and Joseph Villasenor pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). For the reasons discussed in this memorandum opinion and order, the motion to dismiss is granted.

*1000 BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs have filed this action under the federal Consumer Leasing Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1667, the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act, Ill.Rev.Stat., ch. 121 Vk, para. 261, the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, Mich.Comp.L.Ann. § 445.-901, and the common law doctrine of unlawful penalties. The amended complaint seeks damages and other relief based on Chrysler Credit’s alleged disclosure violations and imposition of unreasonable charges for default and early termination of consumer automobile leases. Plaintiffs seek to represent a purported class of persons who have entered into leases with Chrysler Credit.

The Highsmiths entered into a lease with Chrysler Credit on March 10, 1987 for a 1987 Plymouth Sundance. The lease term was 48 months and required the Hi-ghsmiths to make monthly payments to Chrysler Credit in the amount of $254.03. Over the course of the lease, they were to pay Chrysler Credit a total of $12,193.49. On September 21, 1988, the Highsmiths filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition listing Chrysler Credit as a creditor. Chrysler Credit filed a Proof of Claim stating that the Highsmiths were indebted to it for $432.66.

On January 26, 1989, the Bankruptcy Court entered an agreed order rejecting the lease agreement and modifying the automatic stay to allow Chrysler Credit to retake possession of the leased car. After repossessing and selling the car, Chrysler Credit filed an Amended Proof of Claim against the Highsmiths seeking to recover the $5,429.49 allegedly due under the lease agreement as a result of the Highsmiths’ default and early termination. A second Amended Proof of Claim, giving a different address for payments, was also filed. The Highsmiths never objected to the Proof of Claim or the Amended Proofs of Claim.

On February 6, 1991, Judge Ginsburg of the Bankruptcy Court dismissed the Hi-ghsmiths’ case for material default under 11 U.S.C. § 1307(c)(6). Chrysler Credit then filed suit against the Highsmiths in the Circuit Court of Cook County to recover the $5,429.49 deficiency, since a dismissal for material default does not discharge the debtor’s obligations. The Highsmiths responded with a counterclaim alleging that the lease agreement violated the Consumer Leasing Act, the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, and Illinois common law.

Sometime thereafter, the Highsmiths also refiled their bankruptcy petition. Upon learning of the Highsmiths’ second Chapter 13 case, Chrysler Credit voluntarily dismissed the Circuit Court action in compliance with the automatic stay imposed by Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code. Chrysler Credit never filed a proof of claim in the Highsmiths’ renewed Chapter 13 proceeding. However, the Hi-ghsmiths filed a proof of claim on Chrysler Credit’s behalf, seeking to pursue their Consumer Leasing Act and Illinois Consumer Fraud Act claims. The Highsmiths then objected to the claim that they had initiated and, on October 31, 1991, filed an adversary proceeding in the bankruptcy court alleging that they were not liable to Chrysler Credit because of the alleged violations of federal and state law. Chrysler Credit responded by filing a motion, which Judge Ginsburg granted, seeking a determination that the Highsmiths’ adversary proceeding was a noncore proceeding. The dispute then came before this court.

Mr. Villasenor entered into a lease with Chrysler Credit on December 17, 1990 for a 1991 Plymouth automobile. The lease term was 48 months and required Villasenor to make monthly payments to Chrysler Credit in the amount of $338.17. Over the course of the lease, he was to pay Chrysler Credit a total of $16,232.16. This lease has not yet been terminated, and Villasenor seeks a determination that he is entitled to terminate the lease before its scheduled expiration without paying early termination charges because the early termination charges assessed by Chrysler Credit are unlawful.

The Consumer Leasing Act is part of the federal legislation commonly known as the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601-1693r (1982). TILA is a comprehensive regulatory scheme enacted *1001 to govern the consumer credit industry, and it aids unsophisticated consumers in determining total costs of financing. Thomka v. A.Z. Chevrolet, Inc., 619 F.2d 246, 248 (3d Cir.1980).

The TILA sections applicable to consumer leases are known as the Consumer Leasing Act. 15 U.S.C. §§ 1667-1667e. TILA’s damage provisions contained in section 1640 are applicable to claims under the Consumer Leasing Act by § 1667d. Two provisions of the Consumer Leasing Act govern plaintiffs’ federal claims in this case. First is the provision mandating “clear and conspicuous” disclosure of various lease terms, including “the amount or method of determining any penalty or other charge for delinquency, default, late payments, or early termination.” 15 U.S.C. § 1667a. Second is the provision governing liability on expiration or termination of a lease. Section 1667b of the Act provides that any charges for delinquency, default or early termination specified in a lease must be reasonable “in light of the anticipated or actual harm caused by the delinquency, default, or early termination, the difficulties of proof of loss, and the inconvenience or nonfeasibility of otherwise obtaining an adequate remedy.”

The amended complaint is divided into five counts, the first three of which are based on the provisions of the Consumer Leasing Act. Count I, which is brought on behalf of the entire class, alleges that Chrysler Credit’s standard lease form violates section 1667b by imposing unreasonable charges on lessees who default or terminate their leases early. Count II, also a class claim, alleges that the lease violates the disclosure requirements of section 1667a, as well as the Federal Reserve Board’s implementing regulations, commonly known as Regulation M, 12 C.F.R. § 213 et seq. Count III is an individual claim, brought on behalf of the Highsmiths, challenging Chrysler Credit’s alleged failure to disclose items required under Regulation M.

Counts IV and V are brought on behalf of the class and are based on state law.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
150 B.R. 997, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1628, 1993 WL 52599, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/highsmith-v-chrysler-credit-corp-ilnd-1993.