Orr v. Keystone RV Company

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedJune 7, 2024
Docket3:23-cv-00815
StatusUnknown

This text of Orr v. Keystone RV Company (Orr v. Keystone RV Company) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Orr v. Keystone RV Company, (E.D. Va. 2024).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA Richmond Division ANDREW M. ORR, et al., ) Plaintiffs, Vv. Civil Action No. 3:23-cv-815-HEH KEYSTONE RV COMPANY, e¢ al, Defendants. MEMORANDUM OPINION (Granting Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss) THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant Keystone RV Company’s (“Keystone”) Motion to Dismiss (“Keystone’s Motion,” ECF No. 13) and Camping World RV Sales, LLC’s (“Camping World”) Motion to Dismiss (“Camping World’s Motion,” ECF No. 21) (collectively, the “Motions”), filed on September 29, 2023, and October 6, 2023, respectively. On August 21, 2023, Plaintiffs Andrew M. Orr and Lori A. Orr (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) filed their Complaint (ECF No. 1) alleging breaches of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (“MMWA”) and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act (“VCPA”) against Keystone and Camping World (collectively, “Defendants”). (Id. 15-24.) Defendants seek to dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). (Camping World’s Mot. at 1; Keystone’s Mot. at 1.) Camping World also asks the Court to strike Plaintiffs’ jury demand, pursuant to Rule 39. (Camping World’s Mot. at 1.) The parties have filed memoranda supporting their respective positions, and the

Court heard oral argument on February 12, 2024. For the following reasons, the Motions will be granted. I. BACKGROUND On September 9, 2022, Plaintiffs purchased a 2022 Keystone Montana 3791RD

camper van from Camping World for $126,654.32, (Compl. 4.) At the time of purchase, Plaintiffs signed a Purchase Agreement (ECF No. 22-1)! with Camping World. (See id. at 1.) The Purchase Agreement contained a warranty disclaimer on the front

page that reads as follows: Dealer makes no guarantee or warranty, express or implied, This vehicle is sold by Dealer “AS-IS” with no Dealer guarantee or warranty, implied or express. Dealer does not affirm or adopt any manufacturer warranty(s) available to this Unit or any of its components. DEALER HEREBY DISCLAIMS _AND EXCLUDES FROM THIS SALE ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY AND THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS. BUYER(S) ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DISCLAIMER IS MADE IN CAPITALIZED, BOLD AND UNDERLINED FONT AND IS “CONSPICUOUS.” (Purchase Agreement at 1.)? The back of the Purchase Agreement contained a separate warranty disclaimer and limitation of remedies which states: DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION/EXCLUSION OF REMEDIES. DEALER MAKES NO GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND HEREBY DISCLAIMS AND _ EXCLUDES THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY AND THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS The Court may consider contracts related to the sale of the camper at this stage because they are integral to the Complaint and Plaintiffs do not contest their authenticity. 2 All quotes taken from the contracts between the parties appear as formatted in the contracts. However, the size of the font may differ.

FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE FROM THIS SALE _ TRANSACTION AND SUCH WARRANTIES SHALL NOT APPLY TO _ THIS TRANSACTION OR THE UNIT. BUYER(S) UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT DEALER MAKES NO WARRANTY ON THIS UNIT AND THAT ANY PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION OR SERVICE PERFORMED DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR CREATE ANY DEALER WARRANTY OF ANY TYPE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. BUYER(S) UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT ALL TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE BINDING AND SHALL APPLY IN ALL INSTANCES, EVEN IF BUYER(S) ELECT TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT. BUYER(S) UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THE EXPRESS TERMS OF ANY MANUFACTURERS WRITTEN WARRANTY, TO THE EXTENT ANY EXIST AND APPLY TO THE UNIT, CONTAIN AND CONSTITUTE BUYER(S)’ EXCLUSIVE AND SOLE REMEDY FOR ANY PROBLEMS OR DEFECTS THE UNIT MIGHT CONTAIN. (Id. 410.) During the transaction, Plaintiffs also signed an Extended Service Plan (ECF No. 22-2) and a Retail Installment Contract and Security Agreement (ECF No. 22-3). The camper came with a one-year limited base warranty and a three-year structural warranty, provided by Keystone. (Compl. Keystone’s Warranty Guide (ECF No. 30-1) contains a choice of law provision which reads: THE LIMITED WARRANTIES WILL BE INTERPRETED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF INDIANA. ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, CONTROVERSIES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE LIMITED WARRANTIES ... WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF INDIANA.... (id. at 7.)> The Warranty Guide also contained provisions relating to limitation of remedies and instructions on how owners should obtain warranty repairs. (/d. at 6, 12-

3 When citing to the parties’ exhibits, the Court employs the pagination assigned by the CM/ECF docketing system.

13.) On November 14, 2022, Plaintiffs took the camper to Camping World for repairs. (Compl. { 7.) There were numerous warrantied defects that needed to be repaired, including water damage, improperly installed items in the camper, faulty wiring, and leaking black water, among other things. (/d.) Ultimately, forty-four (44) separate issues

were identified. (Jd. | 10.) Despite multiple attempts over 228 days, Camping World

was unable to repair the issues and the camper remains at the repair facility. (id. J] 8— 12.) On March 14, 2023, Plaintiffs informed Camping World, in writing, of the warranty defects. (Id. 4 13.) Since that date, Plaintiffs have been unable to communicate with Camping World because “all attempts to reach Camping World [] by phone calls or emails have been ignored.” (Id. 14.) Camping World refuses to provide Plaintiffs with copies of “Buyer’s Orders [,] Finance Sheets[,] . . . [and] repair orders prior to [the] date of purchase.” (/d.) Based on these facts, Plaintiffs brought the following claims against Defendants: Breach of Express and Implied Warranties under the MMWA (Count J); and Violation of the VCPA (Count II). Ud. ff] 15-24.) II. LEGAL STANDARD A Rule 12(b)(6) motion “does not resolve contests surrounding facts, the merits of

a claim, or the applicability of defenses.” Tobey v. Jones, 706 F.3d 379, 387 (4th Cir. 2013) (quoting Republican Party of N.C. v. Martin, 980 F.2d 943, 952 (4th Cir. 1992))

(internal quotations omitted), “A complaint need only ‘give the defendant fair notice of what the .. . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests.’” Ray v. Roane, 948 F.3d 222, 226 (4th Cir. 2020) (quoting Tobey, 706 F.3d at 387) (alteration in original). However, a “complaint must provide ‘sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Turner v. Thomas, 930 F.3d 640, 644 (4th Cir. 2019) (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009)). “Allegations have facial plausibility ‘when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.’” Tobey, 706 F.3d at 386 (quoting /gbal, 556 U.S. at 678). A court “need not accept legal conclusions couched as facts or unwarranted inferences, unreasonable conclusions, or arguments.” Turner, 930 F.3d at 644 (quoting Wag More Dogs, LLC v. Cozart, 680 F.3d 359, 365 (4th Cir. 2012)). In considering such

a motion, a plaintiff’s well-pleaded allegations are taken as true, and the complaint is viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Nemet Chevrolet, Ltd. v.

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