(PORTSMOUTH, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against a Chesapeake, Ohio, used car dealership accused of failing to deliver motor vehicle titles to Ohio consumers as required by law.
The lawsuit accuses Ohio Valley Auto Sales of Chesapeake, Ohio, and its owner, Don A. Rice III of Huntington, West Virginia, of violating Ohio’s Certificate of Motor Vehicle Title Act.
“One of the top complaints my office receives involves consumers who say they bought a car but never received a title for that car,” Attorney General DeWine said. “In this case, we helped a number of consumers obtain titles for vehicles they bought from this dealership, and now we are seeking reimbursement from the owner.”
According to the lawsuit, Ohio Valley Auto Sales last operated at 619 3rd Avenue in Chesapeake. The dealership is now closed.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office received about 22 complaints against the dealership. Consumers generally said they bought vehicles from the dealership but never received a title.
To help resolve those complaints, the Attorney General’s Office helped consumers obtain titles, in some cases making payments from the Title Defect Rescission Fund, which is a program that helps reimburse consumers who fail to receive a valid certificate of title after buying a vehicle from a dealership. The fund includes payments made by other auto dealerships.
In the lawsuit, filed in the Scioto County Common Pleas Court, the Attorney General seeks a declaration that the defendants’ actions violated state consumer laws, an injunction to stop further violations, reimbursement to the Title Defect Rescission Fund, and civil penalties.
Consumers who have trouble obtaining a valid title after buying a vehicle from a dealership, or those who have other problems with a consumer transaction, should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
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Documents
Lawsuit
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840