Roneker v. Kenworth Truck Co.

944 F. Supp. 179, 33 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 479, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15940, 1996 WL 622550
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedSeptember 19, 1996
Docket1:95-cr-00125
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 944 F. Supp. 179 (Roneker v. Kenworth Truck Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Roneker v. Kenworth Truck Co., 944 F. Supp. 179, 33 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 479, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15940, 1996 WL 622550 (W.D.N.Y. 1996).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

HECKMAN, United States Magistrate Judge.

The parties have consented to have the undersigned conduct all further proceedings in this matter, including entry of judgment, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). Defendants Kenworth Truck Company (“Ken-worth”) and Detroit Diesel Corp. (“DDC”) have moved for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. For the following reasons, defendants’ motions are granted in part and denied in part.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff is a self-employed truck driver. On December 31, 1992, he purchased a 1993 Kenworth T600B truck, which contained an engine manufactured by DDC. Kenworth’s warranty agreement covering the sale provided:

[Ejxcept for engine, engine brake, automatic transmission, tires, wheels and/or rims, and fifth wheel, which are warranted *181 directly to you by their respective manufacturers, ... [the vehicle] will be free from defects in materials and workmanship during the time and mileage periods set forth in the Warranty Schedule and appearing under normal use and service.
* * * * * *
Your sole and exclusive remedy against Kenworth ..., arising from your purchase and use of this vehicle, is limited to the repair or replacement of defective materials or workmanship at Authorized Ken-worth Class 8 Dealers....
WARRANTY DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY
EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE WARRANTY, KENWORTH ... MAKE[S] NO OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND MAKE[S] NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
IT IS AGREED THAT KENWORTH ... SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES including, but not limited to: loss of income; damage to vehicle, attachments, trailers and cargo; towing expenses, attorney’s fees and the liability you may have in respect to any other person.

(Item 24, Ex.F(B)).

The DDC warranty covering the engine 1 provided:

Defects
This warranty covers Engine REPAIRS to correct any malfunction occurring during the WARRANTY PERIOD resulting from defects in material or workmanship.
Repairs
To obtain warranty repairs, you must request the needed repairs within the WARRANTY PERIOD from an authorized DDC service outlet. Only new genuine parts or remanufactured parts or components supplied or approved by DDC will be used. DDC may, at its discretion, replace rather than repair components....
* * * * * *
Incidental or Consequential Damages
DDC is not responsible for incidental or consequential costs or expenses which the owner may incur as a result of a malfunction or failure covered by this warranty, such as communication expenses, meals, lodging, overtime, towing, loss of use of the Engine or vehicle (“downtime”), loss of time, inconvenience, cargo loss or damage, and other similar costs and expenses.
Other Limitations
The performance of REPAIRS is the exclusive Owner’s remedy under this warranty. DDC does not authorize any person to assume or create for it any other obligation or liability in connection with the Engine or the Accessories.
THIS WARRANTY AND THE EMISSIONS CONTROL WARRANTY ARE THE ONLY WARRANTIES APPLICABLE TO THE ENGINE AND ACCESSORIES AS USED IN ON-HIGHWAY VEHICLE APPLICATIONS. [DDC] MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. [DDC] SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

(Item 21, Ex.A).

Plaintiff claims that he began having problems with the truck almost immediately after he bought it. On October 19,1993, plaintiffs attorney Susan M. Hassinger, Esq., wrote to Mr. Daniel Perryman, Service Manager for Kenworth of Indianapolis, Inc. (The Ken-worth dealership from whom plaintiff bought the truck), detailing the following problems:

1. Despite three front-end alignments and at least 15 service visits, the steering wheel *182 shimmied and plaintiff had to purchase new steering tires twice before reaching 100,000 miles.

2. The engine was consuming five times the normal amount of oil, and plaintiff had to have an oil pan leak repaired. His attorney stated in the letter that plaintiff “does not want the motor to be overhauled. [Plaintiff] purchased a brand new vehicle, not one with an overhauled, refurbished motor.”

3. The transmission did not properly shift from 7th to 8th gear, it “hammered” when going into gear, it “howled” at various speeds, and the gearshift lever vibrated and rattled.

4. The hQod was repaired for misalignment, but a piece of the hood was still missing.

5. The electronic tachometer “wandered.”

The letter stated that, in light of these problems, plaintiff was “seeking replacement with a new vehicle ... because it appears that with so many things wrong within the first year of operation, it is quite clearly a lemon and does not meet Kenworth’s high standards or its warranties” (Item 20, Ex.F).

The repair invoices produced by plaintiff during discovery in this case (attached as Ex. F. to Item 24) indicate the following:

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In addition, purchase invoices indicate that plaintiff purchased 55-gallon barrels of oil on March 1, June 24 and November 1,1993, and January 13 and March 20, 1994 (Item 24, Ex. E). Plaintiff purchased new tires on March 8, July 23 and December 19, 1993, and May 3,1994 {id., Ex. H).

On November 11, 1994, plaintiff’s attorney Charles J. Márchese, Esq., wrote to Ken-worth’s attorney stating that plaintiff was continuing to have front end and engine problems with the truck. Plaintiffs attorney stated that DDC “has refused to meet with [plaintiff] and instead offers a rebuilt engine as a solution, one my client is adamantly opposed to as the engine is obviously defective and a new engine should have been provided” (Item 20, Ex. D). Mr. Márchese also detailed an additional problem with the truck’s rear end that necessitated repair work involving a rebuilt unit, which “voided the original 500,000 mile warranty” {id.). Mr. Márchese demanded replacement of the truck with a new Kenworth vehicle, and reimbursement for “one-half of [plaintiffs] out-of-pocket loss over the past two years {id.).”

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944 F. Supp. 179, 33 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 479, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15940, 1996 WL 622550, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/roneker-v-kenworth-truck-co-nywd-1996.