Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust

CourtCourt of Chancery of Delaware
DecidedMarch 18, 2026
Docket2024-0008-LM
StatusPublished

This text of Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust (Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Chancery of Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust, (Del. Ct. App. 2026).

Opinion

COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE LEONARD L. WILLIAMS JUSTICE CENTER LOREN MITCHELL 500 NORTH KING STREET, SUITE 11400 MAGISTRATE IN CHANCERY WILMINGTON, DE 19801-3734

Date Submitted: December 1, 2025 Date Decided: March 18, 2026

Shelly Fang Scott B. Czerwonka, Esquire 7121 West Craig Road, Ste. 113 Wilks Law, LLC Las Vegas, NV 89129 4250 Lancaster Pike, Suite 200 Wilmington, DE 19805

RE: Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust, et al., C.A. No. 2024-0008-LM

Dear Counsel and Parties,

This letter decision concerns a dispute arising from Plaintiff Shelly Fang’s

purchase and financing of a 2016 Toyota Highlander under a Retail Installment Sale

Contract containing an arbitration provision. After Ms. Fang allegedly defaulted on

her payment obligations, the parties proceeded to arbitration before the American

Arbitration Association, where the arbitrator denied Ms. Fang’s claims and awarded

Toyota relief on counterclaims for replevin and breach of contract. Ms. Fang now

seeks to vacate that award, arguing that the arbitrator exceeded his authority and

denied her a fair hearing by limiting discovery and issuing a decision without an

evidentiary hearing. Because the Federal Arbitration Act permits vacatur only on Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust, et al. C.A. No. 2024-0008-LM March 18, 2026 Page 2 of 20

narrow grounds, the Court grants Toyota’s Summary Judgment motion and confirms

the arbitration award.

I. Factual Background:

This dispute arises from a Retail Installment Sale Contract (“RISC”)

containing an arbitration provision, which was executed in connection with Plaintiff

Shelly Fang’s purchase and financing of a 2016 Toyota Highlander (“Vehicle”). 1

On March 16, 2019, Ms. Fang executed the RISC at the Manhattan Beach

Toyota in Manhattan Beach, California, obligating her to make 84 monthly payments

of $649.93 at 7.90% interest beginning April 15, 2019.2 The finance manager

executed the RISC and subsequently assigned it to Toyota, the assignee of the RISC.3

Ms. Fang made several monthly payments but fell behind on payments in late 2022

and early 2023.4 On January 31, 2023, Toyota sent Ms. Fang a Notice of Right to

Cure Default, informing her she was in default, and providing her a specified time

1 D.I. 77 at 2. 2 Id. at 5. 3 Id. 4 Id. Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust, et al. C.A. No. 2024-0008-LM March 18, 2026 Page 3 of 20

period to cure the default.5 Ms. Fang responded by requesting proof of a valid

contract but did not cure the default.6

In March 2023, Ms. Fang initiated an arbitration before the American

Arbitration Association (“AAA”), demanding $120,000 in damages.7 She later filed

an Amended Statement of Claims asserting, among other things, unjust enrichment,

alleged violations of the Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act (“FCEUA”) and the

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), negligent and intentional infliction

of emotional distress, racketeering, equitable and injunctive relief, and Truth in

Lending Act (“TILA”) allegations referencing 12 C.F.R. § 1026. 8 AAA appointed

an arbitrator under the Consumer Arbitration Rules.9 Toyota filed an Answer,

Affirmative Defenses, and a Counterclaim alleging replevin and breach of contract.10

On July 20, 2023, the arbitrator entered a scheduling order requiring Ms. Fang to

respond to Toyota’s counterclaim by August 18, 2023; Ms. Fang did not respond,

5 Id.; D.I. 77, Ex. D at 121. 6 D.I. 77, Ex. D at 122. 7 Id. at 3. 8 Id. at 4 n.3. 9 Id. at 4. 10 Id. Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust, et al. C.A. No. 2024-0008-LM March 18, 2026 Page 4 of 20

and the matter proceeded under the AAA Consumer Rules. 11 Ms. Fang served a

questionnaire on Toyota’s counsel, requesting admissions about the Vehicle and

Toyota. 12 Toyota served initial disclosures and responded to Ms. Fang’s

questionnaire on August 9, 2023.13

On August 21, 2023, Toyota moved for summary disposition arguing: (1)

Toyota is entitled to a return of the Vehicle; (2) Petitioner breached the terms of the

RISC for failure to pay; (3) Petitioner’s vapor money, racketeering, and

securitization claims are frivolous and meritless; (4) Petitioner’s TILA claims fail

because the RISC charges are accurate on its face and Petitioner is not entitled to

rescission, revocation, or cancellation of the RISC; (5) Toyota is not a debt collector

and is therefore exempt from the FDCPA and FCEUA; and (6) Petitioner’s unjust

enrichment and negligent infliction of emotional distress claims are meritless and

fail to state a cause of action.14

On September 29, 2023, the arbitrator issued an award in Toyota’s favor,

granting a writ of possession for the Vehicle and awarding $24,918.00 to Toyota on

11 D.I. 99 at 4. 12 D.I. 8, Ex. J. 13 D.I. 77 at 9; D.I. 9, Ex. K. 14 D.I. 77 at 10. Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust, et al. C.A. No. 2024-0008-LM March 18, 2026 Page 5 of 20

its replevin and breach of contract counterclaims.15 This award denied Ms. Fang’s

Amended Statement of Claims in its entirety and did not award relief to Ms. Fang.16

In January 2024, Ms. Fang filed this action in the Court of Chancery seeking

to vacate the arbitration award, asserting the arbitrator exceeded his powers and

refused to allow discovery under 9 U.S.C. § 10(a)(3) and (4). 17 Toyota opposed,

moved for summary judgment to confirm the award, and later sought a protective

order after Ms. Fang served additional discovery aimed at securitization and standing

theories, among others. 18 Toyota contends those issues were improper for post-

arbitration discovery and that discovery in arbitration was appropriately limited by

the RISC and the AAA Consumer Rules.19

Ms. Fang contends that she made monthly payments through December 10,

2022, totaling over $27,200 and that she requested debt validation on January 10,

2023. 20 She argues the arbitration was transformed into a collection action via

Toyota’s counterclaim and that the arbitrator limited discovery and ruled without an

15 Id. at 4. 16 Id. 17 Id. at 5. 18 Id. at 6; D.I. 29; D.I. 35; D.I. 36. 19 D.I. 35. 20 D. I. 94 at 1. Shelly Fang v. Toyota Auto Receivables 2019 Owners Trust, et al. C.A. No. 2024-0008-LM March 18, 2026 Page 6 of 20

evidentiary hearing. 21 Toyota, in turn, maintains that Ms. Fang defaulted under the

RISC, that it provided a Notice of Right to Cure, that Ms. Fang did not cure or

surrender the Vehicle, and that the arbitrator properly entered the award based on the

record and Ms. Fang’s failure to present evidence of payment.22

II. Standard of Review:

Summary judgment is appropriate where “there is no genuine issue as to any

material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.”23

A motion for summary judgment is the “common [method] for this court to

determine whether to vacate or confirm an arbitration award.” 24 This is true under

either the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act or the Federal Arbitration Act ( the

“FAA”). 25 Generally, a court is required to uphold an arbitration award under the

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