IWOI, LLC v. Monaco Coach Corp.

890 F. Supp. 2d 965, 2012 WL 3598208, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117015
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedAugust 20, 2012
DocketCase No. 07-CV-3453
StatusPublished

This text of 890 F. Supp. 2d 965 (IWOI, LLC v. Monaco Coach 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
IWOI, LLC v. Monaco Coach Corp., 890 F. Supp. 2d 965, 2012 WL 3598208, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117015 (N.D. Ill. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

ROBERT M. DOW, JR., District Judge.

Defendants’ Barrington Motor Sales RV, Sean Bransky and Bryan Bransky move for summary judgment [251] on Counts III-VII of Plaintiffs Third Amended Complaint. For the following reasons, Defendants’ motion [251] is granted as to Count III in its entirety and as to Counts VI and VII to the extent that they seek recovery on the basis of the federal MagnusonMoss Warranty Act (“MMWA”). Defendants’ motion [251] is denied without prejudice in all other respects; as explained in detail below, given that there are no remaining viable federal claims against any Defendant, the Court adheres to the “usual practice” in this circuit of dismissing without prejudice all remaining state law claims.

I. Background1

On April 29, 2006, Plaintiff IWOI, LLC — a Montana limited liability company [967]*967formed by Robert Woischke2- — -ordered a new 2006 Beaver Monterey motor home3 (“RV”) from Defendant Barrington Motor Sales RV (“BMS”) for $222,500.00.4

The RV arrived at BMS from the factory in Oregon on May 8, 2006. From the time that it arrived, the RV had problems. When it arrived, BMS service personnel, including Bryan Bransky, visually inspected and test-drove the RV. On May 8, Woischke visited BMS to see the RV. At that time, Sean Bransky advised him that there were a couple a problems with it. Specifically, the Caterpillar engine was making a lot of noise, the oil pressure was reading low, and there was a lot of black exhaust smoke. Sean informed Woischke that BMS was taking the RV to a Caterpillar facility to have it evaluated. On May 16, Woischke went to Patten Power Systems Co., a Caterpillar facility, to meet with service technicians about the RV and receive a report on their findings and actions.

A few days later, Woischke went back to BMS to see the RV. Sean Bransky advised him that it was exhibiting “bump steer” issues and had been taken to Champion Frame Align, Inc. for service. Sean told Woischke that “bump steer” is when you hit a bump and the steering wheel jerks. Woischke then went to Champion and spoke with an employee who confirmed that the RV exhibited bump steer. Champion worked on the bump steer for a week, but could not determine its cause and was unable eliminate it.

BMS then contacted Monaco for assistance, and on May 25, 2006, Monaco sent a chassis specialist to Champion to investigate and resolve the bump steer issue. The Monaco specialist observed the bump steer issue and made several attempts at fixing it, including readjusting leveling pressures, leveling the vehicle, and realigning the front wheels. The parties disagree as to what Defendants actually told Woischke about the problems and if they could be fixed or whether any modifications took the RV out of the manufacture’s specifications.

At this point, Sean told Woischke that the RV may have to go to Indiana, and that if Woischke was not happy and satisfied he did not have to accept it. The parties dispute whether this meant that Plaintiff could recover the $10,000 deposit that IWOI had put down for the RV. The next day, Woischke informed Sean that he “could not accept the present coach with modifications to ‘treat’ a symptom * * * and that [he] would walk away from the present coach — it was not acceptable.” Sean told Woischke that he would call Monaco and request an identical replacement vehicle. Later that day, the Monaco specialist told Woischke that the bump steer problem was not resolved and he did not know what was causing it. He did not [968]*968tell him about any other problems with the RV.

Woischke again test drove the RV with Sean Bransky and experience the bump steer and heard bumping and clunking noises. In the next few weeks, between May 26 and June 14, Sean and Woischke discussed replacing the RV’s shocks. The parties dispute whether BMS had authorization from Monaco to have Champion replace the shocks with KONI shocks and whether changing the shocks caused additional damage and new problems for the RV. After the shocks were replaced by Champion, Woischke again test drove the RV and heard the same noises. The parties dispute whether Defendants told Woischke that the noises he heard during the test drive were normal and whether Plaintiff continued to feel the bump steer.

On June 14, 2006, after the test drive, Monaco agreed to cover the cost of an extended engine warranty for the RV and Sean Bransky agreed to provide a letter indicating that modifying the RV by installing-the KONI shocks would not alter the applicable warranty. The parties disagree over whether Woischke ever received this letter.

On June 21, Woischke, on behalf of IWOI, purchased the 2006 Beaver Monterey RV, VIW 1RFC9544261039973 from BMS. IWOI purchased the RV under an Illinois Standard Buyers Order, which was signed by Woischke. The provision states that:

DISCLAIMER OF IMPLIED WARRANTY: Unless prohibited by law * * * the vehicle is sold “AS IS” and (dealer) hereby expressly disclaims all warranties, either express or implied, including any IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
* * *
PURCHASER AGREES THAT THIS ORDER INCLUDES ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ON BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK SIDE HEREOF AND THAT THIS CONTRACT CANCELS AND SUPER-CEDES ANY PRIOR AGREEMENT INCLUDING ORAL AGREEMENTS.

Woischke does not deny that he read the Buyers Order or that BMS expressly disclaimed all warranties.

On June 22, the day after purchasing the RV, Woischke returned to BMS complaining that the RV drove “wishy” and “dog-tracked” on the highway. The parties dispute whether Woischke complained about the bump steer at this time. BMS agreed to transport the RV to Monaco’s Indiana repair facility, but first took it to Champion, where the rear end was realigned. The parties also dispute whether the Defendants knew that frame was twisted. On July 18, Woischke again test drove the RV and found that there was still some bumping under the front suspensioif when going over bumps and that there was still “dog tailing” but not as much as before. The next day, Woischke experienced severe bumping that jerked the steering wheel out of his hands and continued to hear clunking noises.

On July 20, 2006, Woischke gave Sean Bransky a letter outlining his complaints, indicating that he is not happy with the vehicle and gave BMS three options: (1) place the vehicle in your inventory and replace it with a new identically equipped vehicle; (2) refund all monies that he has paid or; (3) return the vehicle to the manufacturer to have the problems completely resolved. Woischke also alleges that he refused to take the RV back at this point. BMS agreed to return the RV to Monaco’s Indiana facility and have Woischke go to [969]*969the facility to discuss the problems with the Monaco personnel.

On August 16, Woischke and the RV arrived at the repair facility. Monaco service personnel met and test drove the RV with Woischke and performed repairs. Repairs continued until September 27, 2006. During that time, Woischke sent a letter, dated September 9, 2006, to Brian Sporner in Monaco’s service department complaining that the bumping noise had not been satisfactorily repaired and he was refusing to accept the return of the RV from Monaco.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
890 F. Supp. 2d 965, 2012 WL 3598208, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117015, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/iwoi-llc-v-monaco-coach-corp-ilnd-2012.