Szubski v. Mercedes-Benz, U.S.A., L.L.C.

2003 Ohio 4640, 796 N.E.2d 81, 124 Ohio Misc. 2d 82
CourtCuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
DecidedApril 8, 2003
DocketNo. CV-02-483588
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 2003 Ohio 4640 (Szubski v. Mercedes-Benz, U.S.A., L.L.C.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Szubski v. Mercedes-Benz, U.S.A., L.L.C., 2003 Ohio 4640, 796 N.E.2d 81, 124 Ohio Misc. 2d 82 (Ohio Super. Ct. 2003).

Opinion

BuRT W. Griffin, Judge.

{¶ 1} This is an action for consumer relief arising from the lease of an automobile. Plaintiffs Ralph Szubski and Computer Jungle, Inc. seek damages under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Act, Section 2301 et seq., Title 15, U.S.Code (Counts I and II), and the Ohio Lemon Law, R.C. 1345.71 et seq. (Count III).

{¶ 2} This matter is before the court on the motion of defendant Mercedes-Benz, U.S.A., L.L.C. to dismiss Counts I and II of the first amended complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and plaintiffs Ralph Szubski and Computer Jungle, Inc.’s brief in opposition thereto.

I. Allegations in the First Amended Complaint

{¶ 3} Defendant Mercedes-Benz, U.S.A., L.L.C. (“MBUSA” or “manufacturer”) is in the business of manufacturing, selling, and distributing motor vehicles and related equipment and services. (First Amended Complaint at ¶ 3.) MBU-SA is also in the business of marketing, supplying, and selling written warranties. Id.

{¶ 4} Plaintiffs Ralph Szubski and Computer Jungle, Inc. (collectively, “plaintiffs”) allege the following background facts in their first amended complaint:

“4. On or about November 29, 1999, Plaintiffs leased from Firstar Bank (‘Lessor’) a 2000 Mercedes Benz E320S (‘E320S’), manufactured and/or distributed by Manufacturer * * * to be used for the personal use of Plaintiff, RALPH SZUBSKI.
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“6. Prior to, or contemporaneous to, Plaintiffs’ lease of the E320S, [Motorcars East, Inc.] sold the E320S to Lessor for valuable consideration.
“7. Lessor purchased the E320S for purposes other than resale.
“8. Lessor purchased the E320S to lease to Plaintiffs. In consideration for the lease of the E320S, Manufacturer issued and supplied to Plaintiffs several written warranties, including a four (4) year or fifty thousand (50,000) mile !bumper-to-bumper’ coverage, as well as other warranties fully outlined in the Manufacturer’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty booklet.
“9. At the time Lessor purchased the E320S from [Motorcars East, Inc.], the E320S had been driven approximately 17 miles and was covered by Manufacturer’s written warranty described above.
“10. Lessor would not have purchased the E320S without Manufacturer’s written warranty described above. Additionally, Plaintiffs would not have agreed to lease the E320S without knowledge that Plaintiffs would be able to enforce Manufacturer’s written warranty.
[84]*84“11. On or about November 29, 1999, and at approximately 17 miles on the E320S, Lessor assigned its rights in Manufacturer’s written warranty to Plaintiffs. The transfer of Manufacturer’s written warranty occurred during the duration of said warranty.
“12. On or about November 29, 1999, Plaintiffs took possession of the E320S and shortly thereafter experienced the various defects listed below which substantially impair the use, value and/or safety of the E320S.
“13. The nonconformities described below violate the express written warranties issued to Plaintiffs by Manufacturer, as well as the implied warranty of merchantability.
“14. As a result of these non-conformities, Plaintiffs have delivered the E320S to Manufacturer and/or Manufacturer’s authorized servicing dealerships on numerous occasions.
“15. Manufacturer, through its authorized dealer network, performed repairs on the E320S that were covered by Manufacturer’s written warranty.
“16. Manufacturer allowed Plaintiffs to enforce its written warranty.
“17. Plaintiffs [have] brought the E320S to [Motorcars East, Inc.] and/or an authorized service dealer of Manufacturer for attempted repairs to various defects and nonconformities * * *.
“18. Plaintiffs have provided Manufacturer, through its authorized dealership network, sufficient opportunity to repair the E320S.
“19. After a reasonable number of attempts to cure the non-conformities in Plaintiffs’ E320S, the Manufacturer and its authorized servicing dealerships have been unable and/or have failed to repair the nonconformities, as provided in the Manufacturer’s warranties.”

{¶ 5} Plaintiffs further claim that as a result of the alleged defects in the vehicle, they revoked acceptance of the vehicle in writing on September 5, 2002, but MBUSA refused to accept the revocation. (First Amended Complaint at ¶ 22-24.)

{¶ 6} In Count I of the first amended complaint, plaintiffs allege a claim for breach of written warranty pursuant to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, Section 2301 et seq., Title 15, U.S.Code. In support of this claim, plaintiffs allege the following: that they are a lessee of a consumer product; that they received the vehicle during the duration of the written warranty period applicable to the vehicle; that MBUSA is a “person” engaged in the business of making a consumer product directly available to plaintiffs; that the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act applies because the vehicle was manufactured and leased after July 4, 1975, and cost in excess of $10; that the lease was accompanied by written factory warranties covering any nonconformities or defects in material or work[85]*85manship; and that plaintiffs have suffered damages as a direct and proximate result of MBUSA’s failure to comply with its written warranty. (First Amended Complaint at ¶ 27-36.)

{¶ 7} In Count II, plaintiffs allege a claim for breach of implied warranty of merchantability pursuant to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. In support of this claim, plaintiffs allege the following: that the leased vehicle was subject to an implied warranty of merchantability as defined in Section 2301(7), running from MBUSA to plaintiffs; that MBUSA is a supplier of consumer goods as a “person” engaged in the business of making a consumer product directly available to plaintiffs; that the vehicle was impliedly warranted to be substantially free of defects and nonconformities in both material and workmanship, and thereby fit for the ordinary purpose for which it was intended; that the alleged defects render the vehicle unmerchantable, unreliable, and/or unsafe and not fit for the ordinary purpose for which the vehicle was intended; and that as a result of the breaches of implied warranty, plaintiffs are without the reasonable value of the vehicle and have suffered damages. (First Amended Complaint at ¶ 38-45.)

{¶ 8} Plaintiffs’ claim under Ohio’s Lemon Law, R.C. 1345.72 et seq., which is set forth in Count III of the first amended complaint, is not at issue in this motion to dismiss.

II. Issues

{¶ 9} The main issue before the Court is whether the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, Section 2301 et seq., is applicable to breach-of-warranty actions involving leases. MBUSA argues that the unambiguous language of the statute excludes lease transactions. MBUSA urges the court to follow the holdings of other state and federal courts that have allegedly determined that Congress knowingly opted not to include leases within the scope of the statute. In addition, MBUSA argues that the legislative history of the statute supports a finding that lease transactions are excluded.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2003 Ohio 4640, 796 N.E.2d 81, 124 Ohio Misc. 2d 82, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/szubski-v-mercedes-benz-usa-llc-ohctcomplcuyaho-2003.