ROLLINS v. PREMIER MOTORCARS INC

CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Florida
DecidedJuly 15, 2025
Docket4:24-cv-00413
StatusUnknown

This text of ROLLINS v. PREMIER MOTORCARS INC (ROLLINS v. PREMIER MOTORCARS INC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
ROLLINS v. PREMIER MOTORCARS INC, (N.D. Fla. 2025).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TALLAHASSEE DIVISION

TWANETTA R. ROLLINS, Plaintiff, vs. Case No. 4:24-cv-413-MW-MAF PREMIER MOTORCAR GALLERY, INC. d/b/a PREMIER MOTORCARS, and OMARSHARIF A. GEORGE, Defendants. ____________________________/ REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, initiated this case by filing a civil complaint alleging unfair trade practices and misrepresentations relating to an automobile purchase. ECF No. 1. Plaintiff paid the filing fee, ECF No. 2, and is proceeding on her amended complaint, ECF No. 5. On January 27, 2025, Defendants filed an amended motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim and lack of subject matter jurisdiction. ECF No. 19. Plaintiff filed a response in opposition on February 26, 2025. ECF No. 23. Defendants’ motion is ripe for review.

I. Standard of Review – Motion to Dismiss To survive a motion to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), a plaintiff must allege enough facts in the complaint that show entitlement to relief is plausible. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007). “Asking for

plausible grounds…does not impose a probability requirement at the pleading stage.” Id. at 556. Instead, a claim is plausible when the court can draw “a reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct

alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009); See also Wilborn v. Jones, 761 F. App’x 908, 910 (11th Cir. 2019). At this stage, “all well-pleaded facts are accepted as true, and the reasonable inferences therefrom are construed in the light most favorable to

the plaintiff.” Garfield v. NDC Health Corp., 466 F.3d 1255, 1261 (11th Cir. 2006) (internal marks omitted). Courts must disregard any conclusory allegations or legal conclusions masquerading as fact, assume the

remaining facts are true—however doubtful—and determine if those facts are sufficient to proceed. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). The pleading standard is flexible, and pro se complaints are held to less stringent standards than those drafted by an attorney. Wright v.

Newsome, 795 F.2d 964, 967 (11th Cir. 1986). That said, “a complaint must still contain either direct or inferential allegations respecting all material elements of a cause of action.” Snow v. DirecTV, Inc., 450 F.3d 1314, 1320

(11th Cir. 2006). This is to prevent a “largely groundless claim” from proceeding through discovery. Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 347 (2005).

II. Allegations of the Amended Complaint, ECF No. 5 The following account of the facts comes from the amended complaint (“complaint”). See ECF No. 5 at 4-7. As discussed above, the Court accepts

the complaint’s non-conclusory factual allegations as true. On November 4, 2022, Plaintiff texted Defendant George requesting to purchase a truck. Id. at 4. Defendant George was employed as a sales associate by Defendant Premier Motorcar Gallery Inc. (“Premier”), a car

dealership in Tallahassee, Florida. Id. On November 30th, Defendant George asked Plaintiff if she was interested in a warranty, to which Plaintiff replied that she wanted GAP insurance and any other available options. Id. On

December 4th, Plaintiff was contacted by a loan officer acting on behalf of Defendant Premier. Id. Plaintiff informed the loan officer that she was willing to pay a maximum monthly payment of $500. Id. Later that day, Defendant George informed Plaintiff that the bank approved her for a 2015 Chevy

Silverado 1500 truck priced at $21,595. Id. Plaintiff accepted this offer. Id. On December 5th, Plaintiff traded in her previous car, made a $1,500 down payment, and signed a $25,357.54 bill of sale for the truck. Id. at 5.

Defendant George told Plaintiff he would provide her a copy of the contract after it was signed by his boss. Id. On December 7th, Plaintiff was contacted by One Main Financial,

informing her that Defendant George had not sent them the necessary documents to proceed with financing the truck. Id. Plaintiff then texted Defendant George to notify him of One Main Financial’s attempts to contact

him. Id. The next day, Plaintiff sent One Main Financial her bank statements and identification. Id. On December 9th, Plaintiff informed Defendant George that she completed her documents and planned to pick up the truck later that day, to which Defendant George replied that he would call her when the

mechanic was done and instructed her “not to discuss anything about the truck.” Id. Plaintiff picked up the truck on December 10th. Id. On December 11th, Plaintiff contacted Defendant George about issues

with the truck. Id. Defendant George assured Plaintiff that they would fix the problem and picked up the truck two days later. Id. On December 22nd, Plaintiff texted Defendant George about the truck, telling him that she “felt played.” Id.

On January 13, 2023, Defendant George provided Plaintiff with the bill of sale, which had an increased price of $29,000 and a higher monthly payment of $700. Id. at 6-7. Defendant George claimed that One Main

Financial would not finance Plaintiff for the original $25,000 due to mileage and instructed Plaintiff not to speak to them. Id. at 6. After ceasing her monthly payments in April or May of 2024 due to the higher price and ongoing

mechanical issues, One Main Financial repossessed the truck on an unspecified date. Id. at 6-7. Plaintiff claims Defendants violated the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) by

misrepresenting the vehicle price and failing to provide accurate financing terms. Id. at 8. Plaintiff also claims Defendants violated Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) Act due to fraud and misrepresentation, as well as FTC regulations requiring a buyer’s guide be displayed on used

vehicles. Id. at 9. Additionally, Plaintiff claims Defendants violated Florida regulations requiring “As Is” signs. Id. Plaintiff also claims Defendants violated unspecified federal and Florida law “against deceptive practices” by

using “bait and switch” tactics. Id. Plaintiff further alleges a breach of contract under “federal common law.” Id. Last, Plaintiff claims that Defendants’ use of unfair trade practices violated her rights protected in both the FTC Act and Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (“FDUTPA”). Id.

Plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages, the rescission of the contract, and injunctive relief. Id. at 8, 11. III. Amended Motion to Dismiss, ECF No. 19

Defendants argue dismissal is warranted because Plaintiff fails to state a federal claim. ECF No. 19 at 5. First, they assert Plaintiff’s TILA claim for monetary damages is time-barred by the one-year statute of limitations. Id.

at 6. Since Plaintiff bought the truck in December 2022, “any failure to make required TILA disclosures would have occurred then.” Id. Additionally, Defendants argue that Plaintiff would have been aware that she had not

received proper TILA disclosures when making her first monthly payment in early 2023. Id.

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