Johnson v. Grossinger Motorcorp, Inc.

753 N.E.2d 431, 324 Ill. App. 3d 354, 257 Ill. Dec. 236, 2001 Ill. App. LEXIS 529, 2001 WL 747602
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedJune 29, 2001
Docket1 — 00—3347
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 753 N.E.2d 431 (Johnson v. Grossinger Motorcorp, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johnson v. Grossinger Motorcorp, Inc., 753 N.E.2d 431, 324 Ill. App. 3d 354, 257 Ill. Dec. 236, 2001 Ill. App. LEXIS 529, 2001 WL 747602 (Ill. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

JUSTICE COUSINS

delivered the opinion of the court:

In September 1998, plaintiff filed a nine-count complaint against Grossinger Motorcorp, Inc. (Grossinger or defendant). Count I was dismissed. Defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to counts II, III, VI, VII, VIII, and IX was granted. Defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to counts IV and V was denied. Plaintiff later voluntarily dismissed counts IV and V Plaintiff now appeals from the order granting defendant’s motion for summary judgment as to counts II, III, VI, VII, VIII, and IX of plaintiffs complaint.

The issues upon appeal are: (1) whether the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of defendant relating to plaintiffs conversion claim; (2) whether the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of defendant relating to plaintiffs wrongful repossession claim; (3) whether the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of defendant relating to plaintiffs claim under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) (15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq. (1994)); and (4) whether the lower court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of defendant relating to the plaintiffs Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) claim (15 U.S.C. § 1691 et seq. (1994)).

We affirm.

BACKGROUND

On April 27, 1998, plaintiff went to Grossinger Motorcorp Inc., to purchase a vehicle. Plaintiff spoke to “Mark J.” of Grossinger and informed him that he was interested in purchasing a car for under $12,000. Mark showed plaintiff a Chevy Blazer. After test-driving the Blazer, plaintiff spoke with Jim Wagner, the finance manager at Grossinger. Plaintiff asserts that Jim talked him into buying the Blazer even though it was above his price range, drew up the contract, and “signed everything.” It was plaintiffs understanding that he was given conditional financing provided that he present certain documentation. The next day, plaintiff returned the Blazer pursuant to Grossinger’s 36-hour exchange policy because “[t]he price range was too steep.”

On April 28, 1998, plaintiff test-drove a 1992 Crown Victoria. After the test-drive, plaintiff decided to buy the car. He signed a promissory note for the $250 down payment, signed a “Retail Installment Contract,” initialed the accompanying “Rider to Purchase Contract/ Lease Contract” (Rider), and left with the Crown Victoria. Plaintiff traded in a vehicle which still had $600 in payments left on it. Approximately two days later, plaintiff returned to the dealership to retrieve the in-dash radio from his trade-in vehicle.

The “Retail Installment Contract” provides that the cash price of the Crown Victoria was $8,106.69, less the $250 down payment, less the $2,600 trade-in, leaving an unpaid balance of $5,256.69. Beginning on May 27, 1998, plaintiff was expected to pay 41 installments of $230.18 each to the order of Grossinger at the offices of a bank in Evanston, Illinois. The Rider provides, in pertinent part:

“The customer understands and agrees that Grossinger shall not be obligated to sell unless a third party agrees to purchase the motor vehicle retail installment contract signed by the customer with the purchase contract and this rider. Customer agrees to reasonably cooperate in obtaining such third party approval including but not limited credit application. The purchase contract and retail installment contract may be canceled at any time by Grossinger, if Grossinger determines that it cannot obtain third party approval and may be canceled by either party within 21 days if third party approval is not obtained on the agreed terms.
Customer agrees to return the vehicle within twenty-four hours of notice that Grossinger has not obtained third party approval and Grossinger agrees to return any down payment or trade-in by the customer. Grossinger may repossess the vehicle, with or without legal process, if customer refuses to return it within twenty-four hours.” (Emphasis added.)

During his deposition, plaintiff testified that it was his understanding that he could not leave the dealership until financing had been secured and, therefore, he assumed that he had financing when he left Grossinger with the Crown Victoria. He also understood that defendant could cancel the contract if it could not secure financing for him and that it was his obligation to provide it with the necessary paperwork to secure such financing. He recalled that some of the paperwork needed was a list of references, a postmarked piece of mail, a utility bill, and a paycheck stub.

A few days after the purchase of the Crown Victoria, plaintiff returned with proof of insurance and $250 cash. Plaintiff recalled that he was supposed to bring in the paperwork requested by the manager when he brought in the cash. Although plaintiff was not positive that he brought in all of the paperwork, he thought he “had all of the necessary paperwork.” He stated that he did not make a copy of the documents that he provided that day. Jim said, “[L]oak, this should work but call back.” Plaintiff told Jim that he would call back to “make sure everything was okay.” A day or two later, plaintiff called Jim “to make sure the paperwork was in order.” Jim told him “so far so good.”

About 20 days later, plaintiff went to the dealership because he had not received a payment book. Plaintiff asserts that during that visit, he paid $230.18 as his first installment payment and he was given a receipt. However, the receipt has not been produced.

Approximately 30 days after plaintiff took possession of the Crown Victoria, while he was at his place of employment, a coworker informed him that someone was “messing with” his car. When plaintiff and three other coworkers went to the parking lot, he discovered a man lifting the vehicle with a tow truck. Plaintiff stated that he asked him what he was doing and the man responded that “he had paperwork to repossess the car.” Plaintiff asked him where he acquired that paperwork, but the man did not respond. The man continued to lift the car and plaintiff told him “[W]ait a minute. Let me call Grossinger.” Despite plaintiffs protest, the vehicle was towed away.

Plaintiff called Mark at Grossinger. Mark told plaintiff that he tried calling plaintiff a few times because he needed him to bring in more paperwork. Plaintiff told him that he would bring the paperwork after work. Plaintiff testified that Mark said to him, “[TlheyTl continue to repossess the car. Just bring in the paperwork, and the car will be ready.” Plaintiff asked Mark if he could just drive the car to the dealership and take care of the paperwork then. Mark stated, “[Djon’t worry about it. We’ll just redo the whole contract.”

Plaintiff testified that he brought with him the same paperwork he had provided to Grossinger on at least two previous occasions, which included a utility bill, references, his driver’s license, and mail from his employer. When plaintiff arrived at the dealership, Mark was occupied.

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753 N.E.2d 431, 324 Ill. App. 3d 354, 257 Ill. Dec. 236, 2001 Ill. App. LEXIS 529, 2001 WL 747602, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johnson-v-grossinger-motorcorp-inc-illappct-2001.