Maxwell v. Crabtree Ford, Inc.

144 Misc. 2d 95, 543 N.Y.S.2d 626, 10 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 783, 1989 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 388
CourtJustice Court of Village of Tuckahoe
DecidedJune 13, 1989
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 144 Misc. 2d 95 (Maxwell v. Crabtree Ford, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Justice Court of Village of Tuckahoe primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Maxwell v. Crabtree Ford, Inc., 144 Misc. 2d 95, 543 N.Y.S.2d 626, 10 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 783, 1989 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 388 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1989).

Opinion

[96]*96OPINION OF THE COURT

David Otis Fuller, Jr., J.

In this contract action, the plaintiff seeks reimbursement for losses she claims she incurred because of alleged mechanical failures of a Jeep sold to her by the defendant. A trial of the action was held without a jury on June 6, 1989.

On November 2, 1987, the plaintiff purchased a new 1988 Jeep Wrangler from the defendant, an auto dealer, for $13,058.63. With her purchase, she received a 1988 Jeep new vehicle limited warranty (12 months/12,000 miles base coverage) issued by the Jeep Corporation. The warranty expressly excluded coverage for loss of the use of the vehicle.

After the Jeep had been driven 6,502 miles, on March 21, 1988, the plaintiff had it towed to the defendant’s garage because the drive shaft had fallen off. When the defendant refused her request for the use of another vehicle while hers was being repaired, she purchased a secondhand station wagon elsewhere for $1,500 on April 2, 1988 which she needed especially to drive back and forth to a local college. The defendant, after replacing the rear axle assembly and the transmission at no charge, returned the Jeep to the plaintiff on April 20, 1988.

Eight days later, on April 28, 1988, the plaintiff brought the Jeep back to the dealer because of vibration at 40 and 60 miles per hour. She told the manager the next day that she wanted him to take the Jeep back, but he refused, stating that it was under warranty. The defendant returned the Jeep to her on May 3, 1988 and charged her $50.76 for balancing the wheels, something not covered by the warranty. She told another of defendant’s managers that she wanted him to give her another Jeep but he said that he could not do that because hers was under warranty.

The next day she brought the Jeep back to the defendant to check a vibration in the drive line, rear end pulling, and a rattle in the dash. The defendant installed a new drive shaft at no charge and returned the Jeep to the plaintiff on May 27, 1988.

Three days later, the car lost power and was brought back a fourth time for repair. The plaintiff asked a third manager to take the Jeep back, saying she did not want it anymore. He replied that he could not do that. The defendant repaired the Jeep at no charge and returned it to the plaintiff. She stopped using the Jeep.

[97]*97On July 29, 1988, the plaintiff sold the Jeep for $9,180. She seeks reimbursement for $2,885.86.

The defendant resists her claim because he states she has no cause of action under either the "Lemon Law” (General Business Law § 198-a) or the Uniform Commercial Code.

Defendant’s first defense requires little discussion. Section 198-a (c) (1) of the General Business Law limits the liability for any replacement or refund to the manufacturer. The plaintiff has not sued the manufacturer in this action and the defendant as dealer cannot be held liable under that law.

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Bluebook (online)
144 Misc. 2d 95, 543 N.Y.S.2d 626, 10 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 783, 1989 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 388, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/maxwell-v-crabtree-ford-inc-nyjustcttuckaho-1989.