Keel v. Toledo Harley-Davidson/Buell

920 N.E.2d 1041, 184 Ohio App. 3d 348
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 30, 2009
DocketNo. L-09-1057
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 920 N.E.2d 1041 (Keel v. Toledo Harley-Davidson/Buell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Keel v. Toledo Harley-Davidson/Buell, 920 N.E.2d 1041, 184 Ohio App. 3d 348 (Ohio Ct. App. 2009).

Opinion

Pietrykowski, Judge.

{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Larry Keel, appeals the January 22, 2009 judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas, which granted defendant-appellee Toledo Harley-Davidson/Buell’s motion for summary judgment. For the reasons set forth herein, we affirm in part and reverse in part.

{¶2} The facts of this case are as follows. On March 6, 2008, appellant purchased a used 2007 Harley-Davidson motorcycle from appellee for $23,761.54. Appellant had possession of the motorcycle for 19 days and had driven it 91 miles when he returned to appellee’s dealership complaining that the engine was making a ticking noise. Work was performed on the motorcycle, and it was returned to appellant. On June 10, 2008, appellant returned to the dealership, again complaining of the engine tick. The dealership took the motorcycle for a test ride and over eight days performed diagnostic and repair work. Appellee claimed that the problem had been resolved, because after repair the issue could not be duplicated. Three days later, appellant again returned to the dealership, still complaining of the noise coming from the motor. The dealership performed work on the motorcycle, and it was not returned to appellant until 21 days later. On July 30, 2008, for the fourth time, appellant returned to the dealership, complaining of the ticking noise from the motor. Once again, the motorcycle was returned to him, and appellee alleged that the problem was resolved. According to appellant, he then took the motorcycle to another Harley-Davidson dealership, where he was informed that the engine had a major defect and would cost approximately $2,000 to repair.

[351]*351{¶ 3} On October 2, 2008, appellant filed a complaint against appellee, alleging violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, Ohio’s Lemon Law, breach of express and implied warranties, and breach of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. On November 4, 2008, appellee filed a motion to dismiss and an alternative motion for summary judgment. On January 23, 2009, the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas granted appellee’s motion for summary judgment. Appellant then filed the instant appeal, asserting three assignments of error:

{¶ 4} “I. The trial court erred in improperly granting summary judgment in favor of defendant as to the Ohio Lemon Law Claim.

{¶ 5} “II. The trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of defendant as to the breach of warranty claim.

{¶ 6} “III. The trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of defendant as to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and Consumer Sales Practices Act.”

{¶ 7} This court shall employ a de novo standard in reviewing the grant of a motion for summary judgment. Brown v. Scioto Cty. Bd. of Commrs. (1993), 87 Ohio App.3d 704, 711, 622 N.E.2d 1153. The trial court’s judgment is not afforded any deference, and this court applies the same test, set forth in Civ.R. 56(C), as the trial court. Civ.R. 56(C) provides that before summary judgment may be granted, it must be determined that no genuine issue as to any material fact remains to be litigated; the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; it appears from the evidence that reasonable minds can come but to one conclusion; and viewing such evidence most strongly in favor of the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made, that conclusion is adverse to that party. Turner v. Turner (1993), 67 Ohio St.3d 337, 617 N.E.2d 1123.

{¶ 8} In his first assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred when deciding that the Ohio Lemon Law does not apply because appellee is not a manufacturer. Ohio’s Lemon Law provides a cause of action for any consumer against a manufacturer. R.C. 1345.75(A). A “manufacturer” means a “person who manufactures, assembles, or imports motor vehicles, including motor homes, but does not mean a person who only assembles or installs a body, special equipment unit, finishing trim, or accessories on a motor vehicle chassis supplied by a manufacturer or distributor.” R.C. 4517.01(R). In the case at bar, appellee is an authorized motor-vehicle dealer. Appellant contends that the installation of a new motor classifies appellee as the manufacturer of the motorcycle he purchased. However, appellee merely installed a new motor that was supplied by a separate manufacturer. Accordingly, appellee does not constitute a manufacturer, and a claim cannot be brought for failure to [352]*352comply with Ohio’s Lemon Law. Appellant’s first assignment of error is not well taken.

{¶ 9} In appellant’s second assignment of error, he contends that the trial court erred when it ruled that the “as is” disclaimer waived any express warranties and there was no evidence of an implied warranty. “[U]nless the circumstances indicate otherwise all implied warranties are excluded by expressions like ‘as-is,’ ‘with all faults,’ or other language which in common understanding calls the buyer’s attention to the exclusion of warranties and makes plain that there is no implied warranty.” R.C. 1302.29(C)(1). Appellant asserts that appellee’s statement that the motorcycle was reliable, dependable, and had no defects precluded the “as is” clause printed on the Retail Order and any other disclaimer of warranties. “The Uniform Commercial Code provides that in situations where express warranties are made during the bargain, but then allegedly disclaimed in the actual sales contract, preference is to be given to the express warranties and inconsistent disclaimers are inoperative to the extent they are unreasonable.” Barksdale v. Van’s Auto Sales, Inc. (1989), 62 Ohio App.3d 724, 728, 577 N.E.2d 426. The Barksdale court relied on R.C. 1302.29(A) when ruling that an express warranty takes precedence over an “as is” clause; however, R.C. 1302.29(A) includes a limitation that the section is “subject to the provisions of section 1302.05 of the Revised Code on parol or extrinsic evidence.” R.C. 1302.05 states:

{¶ 10} “Terms with respect to which the confirmatory memoranda of the parties agree or which are otherwise set forth in a writing intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement with respect to such terms as are included therein may not be contradicted by evidence of any prior agreement or of a contemporaneous oral agreement.”

{¶ 11} In the case at bar, the retail order executed at the time appellant purchased the motorcycle constituted a final expression of the agreement between the parties. The retail order contained a merger clause, which stated: “The front and back of this Order comprise the entire agreement affecting this purchase and no other agreement or understanding of any nature concerning same has been made or entered into, or will be recognized.” The inclusion of the merger clause indicates that the writing is fully integrated and it supersedes any previous agreements or understandings between the parties. Accordingly, because the disclaimer waived all express or implied warranties, appellant’s second assignment of error is not well taken.

{¶ 12} Appellant contends in his third assignment of error that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of appellee as to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act. In [353]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
920 N.E.2d 1041, 184 Ohio App. 3d 348, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/keel-v-toledo-harley-davidsonbuell-ohioctapp-2009.