Kucher v. DaimlerChrysler Corp.

194 Misc. 2d 688, 754 N.Y.S.2d 512, 2003 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 83
CourtCivil Court of the City of New York
DecidedFebruary 4, 2003
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 194 Misc. 2d 688 (Kucher v. DaimlerChrysler Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Civil Court of the City of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kucher v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., 194 Misc. 2d 688, 754 N.Y.S.2d 512, 2003 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 83 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2003).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

David Elliot, J.

This action was tried before the court in a nonjury trial. [689]*689Plaintiff commenced the action in Supreme Court; the action was transferred to this court pursuant to the provisions of CPLR 325 (d). Plaintiff seeks recovery against defendant DaimlerChrysler Corporation (hereinafter Chrysler) under General Business Law § 198-a, New York’s New Car Lemon Law, for damages involving a leased motor vehicle. The action was initially commenced against both Chrysler (the manufacturer of the vehicle) and Bayside Chrysler Plymouth Jeep Inc. (the dealer, hereinafter Bayside), alleging claims under the New York Lemon Law and the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. As the New York State Court of Appeals recently held that the federal statute is inapplicable to leased vehicles,1 the action was discontinued against the dealer, and the plaintiff proceeded solely against the manufacturer.

At the start of the trial, the court inquired of the attorneys for the parties as to their position as to whether this court had jurisdiction of an action under the Lemon Law. Their position was that this court does have jurisdiction under CCA 213, as one for rescission of a contract. Although a trial was held, after researching the matter, it is the opinion of this court that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction.

Although the parties have taken the position that the action is one for rescission, the leased vehicle was leased by Bayside to the plaintiff. The remaining action is against Chrysler, which was not a party to the lease. The action is not one for rescission, but one for recovery against Chrylser pursuant to the Lemon Law.

The Court of Appeals has held that the replacement remedy provided by the Lemon Law is equitable in nature and is not subject to a jury trial. (Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Assn. of U.S. v State of New York, 75 NY2d 175.) As this court lacks equitable jurisdiction, it lacks subject matter jurisdiction in this matter.

As a trial was held, and there may be an appeal on the issue of jurisdiction, the court renders the following opinion on the merits of this action.

By lease dated June 22, 2000, plaintiff Barry E. Kucher leased a 2000 Chrysler Town & Country van from Bayside. The plaintiff brought the car to Bayside for servicing on numerous occasions, complaining at various times about excessive oil consumption, and about what the plaintiff considered to be a defective horn.

[690]*690Bayside performed various tests on the vehicle, finally concluding that the engine had to be replaced. There is no dispute that plaintiff brought the vehicle in six times with regard to the oil consumption issue, and that the engine was replaced with a remanufactured engine on the sixth attempt to repair the condition.

The plaintiff brought the car to two separate dealers, complaining about the operation of the horn. Initially, complaints were made when the car was brought to the defendant Bayside. However, after moving to New Jersey, the plaintiff brought the car to a dealer in New Jersey. Bayside found the horn to be functioning properly; the New Jersey dealer later did replace a part involving the horn. According to the plaintiff, the horn still does not function properly, is unsafe, and diminishes the value of the vehicle. The court viewed the operation of the horn, once when operated by the plaintiff, and then by a witness for the defense.

The parties disagree as to the number of visits for repair of the horn, and whether it was necessary for the plaintiff to actually complain about the horn on each and every occasion. For reasons that will follow, it is not necessary to determine the actual number of visits in connection with the horn.

New York’s New Car Lemon Law is found in General Business Law § 198-a, which provides remedies to consumers during the first 18,000 miles of operation or during the period of two years following the date of original delivery of a motor vehicle to a consumer. General Business Law § 198-a (c) (1) provides, inter alia, that if within said period “the manufacturer or its agents or authorized dealers are unable to repair or correct any defect or condition which substantially impairs the value of the motor vehicle to the consumer after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer, at the option of the consumer, shall replace the motor vehicle with a comparable motor vehicle, or accept return of the vehicle from the consumer and refund to the consumer the full purchase price or, if applicable, the lease price and any trade-in allowance plus fees and charges * * * .”

Subdivision (d) of section 198-a provides that:

“It shall be presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle to the applicable express warranties, if:

“(1) the same nonconformity, defect or condition has been subject to repair four or more times by the manufacturer or its [691]*691agents or authorized dealers within the first eighteen thousand miles of operation or during the period of two years following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to a consumer, whichever is the earlier date, but such nonconformity, defect or condition continues to exist; or

“(2) the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair of one or more nonconformities, defects or conditions for a cumulative total of thirty or more calendar days during either period, whichever is the earlier date.”

To recapitulate, there are two basic categories under which the plaintiff alleges that this case fits. First, that the vehicle was not repaired after four visits, and second, that the vehicle was out of service for more than 30 calendar days. For reasons that will follow, it is important to note that in the first category (number of visits), the law specifically includes the words “but such nonconformity, defect or condition continues to exist,” whereas in the second category (more than 30 days), it does not.

The Lemon Law provides that the consumer has the right to submit his claim to an independent arbitrator approved by the State Attorney General. The rules for the administration of the program are found in part 300 of title 13 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York.

The Attorney General determines the interpretation of the Lemon Law for the arbitrators, in that he provides forms for the arbitrators to reach certain decisions based upon the answers to specific findings of fact.

Plaintiff alleges that he is entitled to recover under the Lemon Law, both under General Business Law § 198-a (d) (1) and (2). As to the latter, plaintiff’s position is that his vehicle was out of service by reason of repair of one or more defects for a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar days. Further, plaintiff alleges that he is not barred from recovery under subdivision (d) (1), despite the fact that the vehicle engine problem was repaired prior to the date of trial. Plaintiff’s position is that under the Lemon Law, the consumer is entitled to a refund where the vehicle remains defective after four repair attempts, irrespective of whether the vehicle has been repaired prior to the time of trial. At the time of trial, the plaintiff cited the supporting memorandum to General Business Law § 198-a of Senator Joseph Bruno in support of his position, apparently because the memorandum in support did not discuss the requirement that the defect continue to exist.

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Related

DaimlerChrysler Corp. v. Spitzer
6 Misc. 3d 228 (New York Supreme Court, 2004)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
194 Misc. 2d 688, 754 N.Y.S.2d 512, 2003 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 83, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kucher-v-daimlerchrysler-corp-nycivct-2003.