Linda Ann Baxter v. Sparks Oldsmobile, Inc. And Ted Privette

Fourth Circuit

Linda Ann Baxter v. Sparks Oldsmobile, Inc. And Ted Privette

579 F.2d 863, 1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 10195

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

DecidedJuly 12, 1978

Docket77-1733

StatusPublished

Cited by16 cases

This text of 579 F.2d 863 (Linda Ann Baxter v. Sparks Oldsmobile, Inc. And Ted Privette) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Linda Ann Baxter v. Sparks Oldsmobile, Inc. And Ted Privette, 579 F.2d 863, 1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 10195 (4th Cir. 1978).

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Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Plaintiff-appellant, Linda Ann Baxter, brought suit in the United States District Court seeking damages for alleged violations of the disclosure provisions of the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq. 1 The Court granted defendant-appel-lee’s motion for summary judgment, concluding that no binding contract for the extension of credit had been consummated by the parties, thereby finding the transaction to be outside the coverage of the Act. We agree that the Truth in Lending Act has no application to the transaction involved in this case.

When a retailer arranges credit for his purchaser through a third party, the transaction of sale becomes a “credit transaction” and the retailer becomes a “creditor” subject to the terms of the Truth in Lending Act. Stefanski v. Mainway Budget Plan, Inc., 456 F.2d 211 (5 Cir. 1972). In the instant case appellant signed an “order” for the purchase of an automobile she had chosen from appellee’s lot. This document contained the following language:

“ . . .IN THE EVENT OF A TIME SALE, DEALER SHALL NOT BE OBLIGATED TO SELL UNTIL APPROVAL OF THE TERMS HEREOF IS GIVEN BY A BANK OR FINANCE COMPANY WILLING TO PURCHASE A RETAIL INSTALMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO BASED ON SUCH TERMS.”

It is clear from this language and from the record as a whole that the parties contemplated that credit would be arranged through a third party by further action of appellee.

If the arrangements for the extension of credit had been completed there could be little question relating to the applicability of the Act. However, the transaction for extension of credit had not been completed at the time appellant expressed dissatisfaction with her prospective purchase. Consequently, negotiations failed and credit was never finally extended. The condition precedent contained in the “order” form requiring approval of an appropriate financier indicates that further action was necessary to consummate the extension of credit. Philbeck v. Timmer’s Chevrolet, Inc., 361 F.Supp. 1255, 1257 n. 1 (NDGa. 1973). Ap-pellee was obligated to make the proper disclosures prior to the extension of credit, but the Truth in Lending Act does not impose penalty until credit is in fact extended.

Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

1

. The District Court declined to exercise its pendant jurisdiction over the warranty claim raised under State law. Consequently, this State claim was dismissed without prejudice.

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PER CURIAM:

Plaintiff-appellant, Linda Ann Baxter, brought suit in the United States District Court seeking damages for alleged violations of the disclosure provisions of the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq. 1 The Court granted defendant-appel-lee’s motion for summary judgment, concluding that no binding contract for the extension of credit had been consummated by the parties, thereby finding the transaction to be outside the coverage of the Act. We agree that the Truth in Lending Act has no application to the transaction involved in this case.

When a retailer arranges credit for his purchaser through a third party, the transaction of sale becomes a “credit transaction” and the retailer becomes a “creditor” subject to the terms of the Truth in Lending Act. Stefanski v. Mainway Budget Plan, Inc., 456 F.2d 211 (5 Cir. 1972). In the instant case appellant signed an “order” for the purchase of an automobile she had chosen from appellee’s lot. This document contained the following language:

“ . . .IN THE EVENT OF A TIME SALE, DEALER SHALL NOT BE OBLIGATED TO SELL UNTIL APPROVAL OF THE TERMS HEREOF IS GIVEN BY A BANK OR FINANCE COMPANY WILLING TO PURCHASE A RETAIL INSTALMENT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO BASED ON SUCH TERMS.”

It is clear from this language and from the record as a whole that the parties contemplated that credit would be arranged through a third party by further action of appellee.

If the arrangements for the extension of credit had been completed there could be little question relating to the applicability of the Act. However, the transaction for extension of credit had not been completed at the time appellant expressed dissatisfaction with her prospective purchase. Consequently, negotiations failed and credit was never finally extended. The condition precedent contained in the “order” form requiring approval of an appropriate financier indicates that further action was necessary to consummate the extension of credit. Philbeck v. Timmer’s Chevrolet, Inc., 361 F.Supp. 1255, 1257 n. 1 (NDGa. 1973). Ap-pellee was obligated to make the proper disclosures prior to the extension of credit, but the Truth in Lending Act does not impose penalty until credit is in fact extended.

Accordingly, the judgment of the District Court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

1

. The District Court declined to exercise its pendant jurisdiction over the warranty claim raised under State law. Consequently, this State claim was dismissed without prejudice.

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579 F.2d 863, 1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 10195, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/linda-ann-baxter-v-sparks-oldsmobile-inc-and-ted-privette-ca4-1978.

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