Pidcock v. Ewing

435 F. Supp. 2d 657, 59 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1017, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33388, 2006 WL 1494978
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Michigan
DecidedMay 25, 2006
Docket04-73710
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 435 F. Supp. 2d 657 (Pidcock v. Ewing) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Michigan primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pidcock v. Ewing, 435 F. Supp. 2d 657, 59 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1017, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33388, 2006 WL 1494978 (E.D. Mich. 2006).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER GRANTING ROAD MASTER’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND GRANTING CUMMINS AND ONAN’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

COHN, District Judge.

I. Introduction

This is a breach of warranty case arising out of the purchase of a motor home. Plaintiffs Richard and Lynn Pidcock sued the following defendants: George Ewing, Inc. (Ewing); Monaco Coach Corporation (Monaco); Cummins Engine Company (Cummins); Onan Corporation (Onan), RVA Company; APA Engineered Solutions, Inc.; Kwikee Products Co., Inc.; Dometic Corporation; Freightliner Corp.; and Road Master Chassis (Road Master). The Pidcocks claim the following: (I) violation of the Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Act; (II) Violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act; (III) Breach of Warranty under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and Breach of Express and Implied Warranties under the U.C.C.; (IV) Breach of Warranty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing; and (V) Revocation.

As will be explained, the only defendants now in the case are (1) Cummins and Onan and (2) Road Master. Both defendants have filed motions for summary judgment. For the reasons that follow, the motions are GRANTED.

II. Background 1

A. General

On June 8, 2002, the Pidcocks purchases a 2002 Holiday Rambler Ambassador Motor Home for a base price of $136,-223,56. They financed a portion of the *659 purchase priced With interest on the loan plus taxes, the total price was $249,196.80. Holiday Rambler manufactured the coach portion or “house” of the motor home. Holiday Rambler is a wholly owned subsidiary of Monaco. Road Master manufactured the chassis portion of the motor home and it is also a wholly owned subsidiary of Monaco. Holiday Rambler then sold the completed motor home to Ewing, an independent dealer. Ewing sold the home to the Pidcocks. Delivery occurred on or about June 15, 2002.

The motor home was repaired by various defendants throughout the Pidcock’s ownership. In September 2003, the Pid-cocks took the motor home in for repair. Repairs were completed by November 2003. Following these repairs, the Pid-cocks drove the motor home from the repair facility to a storage facility and have not driven it since.

Apparently believing that the motor home is not longer drivable or functional, the Pidcocks filed a complaint against defendants making the claims noted above.

B. The Relevant Papers/Warranties

1.Ewing — -The Dealer

Richard Pidcock and Ewing entered into a purchase agreement for the motor home on June 15, 2002. The .purchase agreement contains the following provisions. On the front page, in all capital letters, it states: NOTE: WARRANTY AND EXCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF DAMAGES ON THE REVERSE SIDE. The reverse side of the purchase agreement contained warranty language which will not be repeated here.

2.Monaco a/k/a/ Holiday Rambler— Manufactured the House Portion

Holiday Rambler provided a limited warranty for twelve months or 24,000 miles and a sixth month/50,000 mile warranty for the steel or aluminum frame of the sidewalls (excluding side outs), roof, and rear and front walls. The limited warranty disclaims (in all capital letters) any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The warranty covers “defects in the manufacture of your motor home and defects in materials used to manufacture your motor home.” It also contains the following limitation on legal action (in bold print and in all capital letters where indicated):

LEGAL REMEDIES:
ANY ACTION TO ENFORCE THIS EXPRESS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY SHALL NOT BE COMMENCED MORE THAN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY. Some states do not allow the reduction in the statute of limitations, so the above may not apply to you.
Richard Pidcock signed an acknowledgment of the Holiday Rambler warranty.

3.Road Master — Manufactured the Chassis

Road Master also provided a limited warranty for twenty-four months or 24,000 miles. It covers “defects in the manufacture of the Roadmaster chassis (as defined herein) and defects in materials used to manufacture the Roadmaster chassis.” Road Master’s obligation was limited to repair or replacement of any covered defect. Like the Holiday Rambler warranty, it disclaimed any implied warranties and contained a limitation provision on commencing a legal action more than one year after expiration of the warranty.

4.Cummins — Manufactured the Engine

Cummins provided a warranty. The relevant provisions follow:

COVERAGE
Base Engine Warranty
The Base Engine Warranty covers any failure of the Engine which result, *660 under normal use and service, from a defect in material or factory workmanship (Warrantable Failure). This coverage begins with the sale of th Engine by Cummins and continue s to five years or 100,000 miles (160,935 kilometers), whichever occurs first, from the date of deliver of the Engine to the first user.
This warranty on Consumer Products is the United States is a LIMITED warranty. CUMMINS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. Any implied warranties applicable to Consumer Products in the United States terminate concurrently with the expiration of the express warranties applicable to such products.....
Cummins Responsibilities
During the Base Engine Warranty
Cummins will pay for all parts and labor needed to repair the damage to the Engine resulting from a Warranta-ble Failure.
Limitations
Cummins is not responsible for failures or damage resulting from what Cummins determined to be abuse or neglect, including but not limited to: operation without adequate coolants or lubricants; overfueling, overspeeding; lack of maintenance of lubricating, cooling, or intake systems; improper storage, starting, warm-up, run-in or shutdown practices; unauthorized modification of the Engine. Cummins is also not responsible for failure caused by incorrect oil or fuel or by water, dirt or other contaminants in the fuel or oil.
5. Onan — Manufactured the Generator in the motor home.

Onan provided the following warranty, in relevant part.

THERE IS NO OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTY
IN NO EVENT IS ONAN LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE LIMITED TO PERIODS OF WARRANTY SET FORTH BELOW. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY AND ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES ARE EXCLUDED.

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435 F. Supp. 2d 657, 59 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1017, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33388, 2006 WL 1494978, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pidcock-v-ewing-mied-2006.