From Public Justice: “Car dealerships are notorious for scams. But charging customers an emissions testing fee on brand new cars? And then weaseling out of responsibility by banning class actions? Come on.
Late last week, as we urged, the Supreme Court of Nevada ruled unanimously that a Las Vegas dealership’s class action ban violates state public policy. In addition to challenging the emissions testing fee, consumers William and Beth Ann Picardi also said that the dealership, United Hyundai, didn’t credit them and others for the trade-in value of their used vehicles.
After the district court rejected the plaintiffs’ challenge to the class action ban and upheld the dealer’s motion to compel arbitration, we petitioned the state supreme court to review the case.
The court accepted our petition and then ruled for our clients. In reaching its decision last week, the court concluded that ‘a clause in a contract that prohibits a a consumer from pursuing claims through a class action violates Nevada public policy.’
In representing the plaintiff’s, Senior Attorney Paul Bland joined George O. West III, of Consumer Attorneys Against Auto Fraud.
To read the Supreme Court of Nevada’s decision in Picardi v. United Hyundai, click here.
