(SANDUSKY, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against a used car dealership accused of failing to deliver motor vehicle titles as required by law.
The lawsuit accuses Hometown Car Sales and its owner, Brian L. Vanvlerah of Sandusky, of violating Ohio’s Certificate of Motor Vehicle Title Act.
Hometown Car Sales last operated at 2434 W. Monroe St. in Sandusky. It is currently closed.
In the last two years, approximately 10 consumers filed complaints against Hometown Car Sales. Nearly all the complaints involved title issues.
“When consumers buy a vehicle from a dealership, they expect to receive a title for that vehicle, and when they don’t, we try to help them,” Attorney General DeWine said. “In this case we found a pattern of violations, and we are seeking reimbursement from the dealership and an injunction to prevent further violations.”
The Attorney General’s Office helps to resolve consumer complaints. In some cases, to resolve title complaints, payments are made from the Title Defect Rescission Fund. The fund includes payments from auto dealerships and is administered to help buyers who fail to receive titles after purchasing a vehicle from a dealership. In this case, payments from the fund totaled about $6,450.
In the lawsuit, filed in the Erie County Common Pleas Court, the Attorney General seeks reimbursement to the fund, consumer restitution, an injunction to stop further violations, and civil penalties.
Consumers who have title problems after purchasing a motor vehicle or who have other problems with a consumer transaction should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 800-282-0515 or www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov.
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Documents
Lawsuit (PDF)
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840