Liabo v. Wayzata Nissan, LLC

707 N.W.2d 715, 2006 Minn. App. LEXIS 15, 2006 WL 91771
CourtCourt of Appeals of Minnesota
DecidedJanuary 17, 2006
DocketA05-497
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 707 N.W.2d 715 (Liabo v. Wayzata Nissan, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Liabo v. Wayzata Nissan, LLC, 707 N.W.2d 715, 2006 Minn. App. LEXIS 15, 2006 WL 91771 (Mich. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION

RANDALL, Judge.

This is an appeal from summary judgment on appellant’s claims against a car dealership for violation of the Truth-in-Lending Act and the Minnesota Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act and for engaging in deceptive trade practices in violation of certain consumer fraud statutes. Appellant had signed certain documents regarding the purchase of a vehicle at a particular interest rate and then respondent refused to return her deposit when the sale was not completed because of appellant’s withdrawal.

Appellant argues: (a) she did not sign a binding contract; (b) the seller was required to provide her with disclosures pursuant to the Truth-in-Lending Act and obtain her signature as required by Minn. Stat. § 168.71 (1998); (c) failure to provide such disclosures constitutes a deceptive trade practice within the meaning of Minn. Stat. §§ 325D.44 (1988) and 325F.69 (1986); (d) under the circumstances, it was a deceptive trade practice to retain the down payment where the buyer rescinded the contract prior to receiving such disclosures; and (e) other actions by the dealership constituted deceptive trade practices.

FACTS

In response to an advertisement offering Nissan automobiles for sale and 2.9% annual percentage rate (APR) financing, Paulette B. Liabo, appellant, visited Way-zata Nissan, respondent. Upon arrival at respondent, appellant met with sales associate Jamie McGregor. After looking at and test driving various automobiles, McGregor and appellant discussed financ *718 ing. As a result, appellant offered to purchase a 1998 Nissan Altima GXE for $19,158, contingent upon her being approved for the 2.9% APR financing. The 2.9% APR financing was available only to customers who were qualified under Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation’s (NMAC) Tier 1 or 2 guidelines. 1 Appellant agreed to purchase the 1998 Altima GXE for $19,158.

After appellant offered to purchase the GXE, a Delivery Sheet was prepared. A Delivery Sheet is prepared as part of every transaction where a customer purchases a motor vehicle, whether the customer arranges financing with respondent or finances the purchase through other means. The Delivery Sheet is a written record of the basic terms of the sale that are agreed upon during negotiations between the salesperson and the customer.

As part of the purchase, appellant was to trade in her 1987 Sentra for which she received $1,168 and make a down payment of $1,200. After adding sales tax of $1,169.35, administrative fees of $44.50, and license fees of $204, appellant was to finance approximately $18,208. 2 This information was recorded on the Delivery Sheet. Because appellant wanted to ensure her down payment of $1,200 would be refunded if she was denied financing at 2.9% APR, at her insistence, handwritten on the Delivery Sheet were the words “Special 2.9% O.A.C.”

After all figures were recorded and the handwritten notation was inscribed, appellant signed the Delivery Sheet. Above her signature, in block lettering, was the statement:

I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A BINDING CONTRACT AND I WILL LOSE ANY DEPOSIT IF I DO NOT PERFORM ACCORDING TO TERMS.

Both appellant and respondent understood that if appellant did not qualify for the 2.9% APR, her down payment would be refunded and she would not obligated to purchase the 1998 Altima GXE. Both understood that if she was approved for the 2.9% APR, she would be obligated to purchase the 1998 Altima GXE.

After completing the Delivery Sheet, appellant completed a credit application. Thereafter, Daniel Sinner, respondent’s Sales Manager, ran a credit report. Based upon the results of the credit report, Sinner told appellant he doubted she would be approved for the special 2.9% APR financing. Her credit report indicated that appellant was delinquent and had a derogatory public record, a collection notice filed against her, and other accounts in delinquency. Sinner discussed with appellant alternative financing. One possible option was to submit her credit application to another bank, such as Chase Manhattan where appellant had an existing account. Although the APR was likely to be a bit higher, Sinner stated that she could receive a $500 rebate, which would help defray the higher APR. After discussing alternative financing with Sinner, appellant indicated she wanted to resolve the issues noted in her credit report. Appellant believed her credit problems were related to student loans. Sinner gave appellant the telephone number for Sallie Mae, a credit advisor company, and advised her as to what she needed to do to improve her credit.

In the meantime, at the request of appellant, respondent submitted her credit *719 application to NMAC, hoping to be approved for the 2.9% APR financing. Her credit application was also submitted to Chase Manhattan in case NMAC did not approve her for the special 2.9% APR. Subsequently, appellant was still not approved for the special 2.9% APR financing.

A finance associate with respondent recommended that appellant obtain documentation to show that her school loan problems had been resolved. Appellant did so and respondent’s finance office sent a letter to NMAC’s regional manager asking that NMAC reconsider its decision regarding the special 2.9% APR. Sinner made several calls to NMAC in an attempt to secure the special 2.9% APR financing. After some efforts on the part of respondent, appellant was notified that she had qualified for the special 2.9% APR financing which was approved for the purchase of the 1998 Altima GXE.

After respondent secured the 2.9% APR financing for appellant, she changed her mind and decided she wanted to purchase a different model, the Altima GLE, instead of the GXE. The GLE retailed for a higher price and Sinner informed appellant that the special financing would not be approved for the GLE. As a favor, Sinner contacted NMAC in an effort to allow the special 2.9% APR financing to be applied to the GLE but was told the 2.9% APR financing was approved only for the 1998 Altima GXE. Appellant decided not to purchase the 1998 Altima GXE. Respondent then refused to refund her $1,200 deposit under the terms of the Delivery Sheet.

Appellant argued that if the Delivery Sheet was a binding agreement, it was an agreement binding her to purchase a vehicle by credit. Therefore, she argues, respondent was obligated to make disclosures required of both the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) 15 U.S.C. § 1601, and the Minnesota Motor Vehicle Retail Installment Sales Act (MVRISA) Minn.Stat. § 168.66 et seq. If the Delivery Sheet was not a binding contract, she argues respondent engaged in a deceptive trade practices within the meaning of Minn.Stat. §§ 325D.44 and 325F.69 because respondent represented the Delivery Sheet to be a binding contract and refused to refund her down payment. Respondent moved for summary judgment arguing that the Delivery Sheet was a binding contract, but that it was not solely a credit agreement requiring TILA and MVRISA disclosures.

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707 N.W.2d 715, 2006 Minn. App. LEXIS 15, 2006 WL 91771, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/liabo-v-wayzata-nissan-llc-minnctapp-2006.