(MARYSVILLE, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced a lawsuit against a central Ohio used car dealership accused of failing to provide vehicle titles to buyers as required by law.
The Attorney General’s lawsuit charges Woda Automotive LLC and its owner Donald Woda with violations of Ohio law and seeks reimbursement to the state’s Title Defect Recision (TDR) Fund.
The Attorney General’s Office paid out $108,811.50 from the TDR Fund to resolve claims against the dealership. (Money for the TDR Fund comes from auto dealers and is administered by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.)
“This dealership sold used cars to consumers but in some cases failed to get them titles to the vehicles,” Attorney General DeWine said. “That created a big problem for consumers. We helped consumers resolve their title issues, and we are taking this action to hold the dealership accountable.”
According to the Attorney General’s lawsuit, Woda Automotive last operated at 18987 State Route 37 in Broadway, Ohio. It is currently closed.
Before it closed, it sold vehicles but failed to obtain certificates of title for certain purchasers within the timeframe required by Ohio law. It also sold used cars that had preexisting liens, which prevented buyers from obtaining titles to the vehicles they purchased.
In the lawsuit, filed in the Union County Common Pleas Court, the Attorney General charges Woda Automotive and Donald Woda of Marysville with violations of Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act and Certificate of Motor Vehicle Title Act. The Attorney General seeks declaratory relief, injunctive relief, and civil penalties, in addition to restitution to the TDR Fund.
The TDR Fund was created to administer refunds to retail purchasers of motor vehicles who suffer damages from dealers who fail to provide a valid certificate of title in the purchaser’s name within the statutorily required period of time.
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.
-30-
Documents
Lawsuit (PDF)
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Kate Hanson: 614-466-3840