Dealership Accidentally Sells Va. Man an SUV for $5K Less Than it Costs — Then Tells Police He Stole it and Has Him Arrested
Image source: Priority Chevrolet
A Virginia man is suing a Chevrolet dealership after it accidentally sold him a car for $5,600 less than it cost — and then accused him of stealing it and had him arrested, the Virginian-Pilot reported.
According to the lawsuit, Danny Sawyer, 40, purchased a black Chevrolet Traverse from Priority Chevrolet in May but returned the next morning to exchange it for a blue one. A sales manager agreed to the trade but did not say how much more the blue SUV would cost — something the dealership disputes. Still, Sawyer signed a new contract with a sales price of about $34,000 when it should have been around $39,000.
One week later, Sawyer returned home to dozens of voice messages and a letter from the dealership. The sales manager said he made a mistake and sold the car for too little, and asked Sawyer to return and sign a new, correct contract. According to the lawsuit, Sawyer refused. When he didn’t return, the dealership continued to try to contact him before finally going to the police to report the SUV had been stolen. On June 15, three police officers arrested Sawyer in front of his Chesapeake, Va. home. He was released on bond after spending four hours in jail.
Priority Chevrolet President Dennis Ellmer apologized Wednesday for Sawyer’s arrest and said the dealership “definitely made a mistake” — first with the incorrect contract and then in going to the police.
“I owe Mr. Sawyer a big apology,” Ellmer told the Virginian-Pilot. “It is my plan to let him keep the $5,600 and to make Mr. Sawyer right. I can’t tell you how I plan to fix it, but it is my intention to make it right.”
Rebecca Colaw, Sawyer’s attorney, told the newspaper her client appreciates Ellmer taking responsibility but said “an apology is not enough.”
Sawyer has filed two lawsuits accusing the dealership of malicious prosecution, slander and defamation, among others, and is seeking $2.2 million in damages, plus attorney fees.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Nancy Parr told the Virginian-Pilot her office dropped all charges against Sawyer due to insufficient evidence.
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Comments (300)
Kaoscontrol
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:05pmI work in a marketing business and have seen my share of Car Dealers “behind the scenes”. Usually car dealerships take advantage of customers and laugh about it in their smokey back rooms. The shoe doesn’t feel so good on the other foot, eh Mr. car salesman?
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johnjamison
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:24pmExactly if he found that theuy charged him way too much for the van and went back to the dealership would they draw up a new contract for less……DO THINK SO.
I only wish it could have been me 2.2 is chump change sound around 5 million to me and then there the whole matter of the police arresting first and asking questions later…..that sounds like another 10 million.
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QuincySmith
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:42pm“I can’t tell you how I plan to fix it, but it is my intention to make it right…Sawyer has filed two lawsuits accusing the dealership of malicious prosecution, slander and defamation, among others, and is seeking $2.2 million in damages, plus attorney fees.” ~~~ Seems Mr. Sawyer found a way.
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Jaycen
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:03pmBelow, another commenter mentioned mercy and forgiveness. That would apply had Sawyer not been thrown in jail and entered into the system. It’s next-to-impossible to get back out of the system.
If I could be assured that all of my information was completely expunged from the police database, AND I got an apology….well, I’d probably still demand some compensation for the time I was in jail, etc. Maybe free oil changes for the next 2 years and a new set of tires for my new SUV.
That would do it for me.
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Chuck Stein
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:13pm@ Quincysmith
You got it!
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Jive Mickey
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:17pmLet’s be reasonable. Just give him the car free and clear and be done with it. Cut the crap.
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DonLukas
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:17pmI used to work at a chevy/gm dealership in LA
Spent the first month training on how to rip off people.
Turned out I didn’t have the stomach for “business”
I eventually got fired
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ThemDemsLie2much
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:23pmWhy hasn’t the police dept. filed charges for filing false statements and false arrest?
Why isn’t Sawyer filing false arrest suit on the Police?
Democrats! How about the Dealer saying,,†Ellmer told the Virginian-Pilot. “It is my plan to let him keep the $5,600″! Let him keep it! Sawyer never took it! What a bunch of lame idiots. Cops must get a hell of a discount from the dealership since they took this guy in. I’m sure Sawyer showed them the paperwork plus, what was the dealers description of how the theft accured? Um. we screwed up on the sale amount and noticed it a week later. Cops: SOB’n crook, were on it.. WTH? M O R O N A L E R T !
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Truth Meter
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:35pmGovernment Motors at its best, looks like the GM dealers Obama allowed to survive think just like his commie butt. “We made a mistake call the Gestapo !!!”
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Deadbang
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:54pmThat’s the problem with this country. An attorney says I can get you a bundle and people sue. What he went through is certainly not worth 2.2 million. Fire the jerk salesman that reported it stolen and give him the car for free end of story. If he hadn’t had his lawyer blab it all over the news his character would not have been defamed. Four hours in lockup come on man!
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zorro
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:07pmThemDemsLie2much
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:23pm
Ellmer told the Virginian-Pilot. “It is my plan to let him keep the $5,600″! Let him keep it! Sawyer never took it!
———————————————————-
That is an excellent point, ThemDemsLie2much. I wouldn’t doubt it Sawyer feels the same way you do and that is why he’s suing. Sawyer doesn’t need the dealership to do him any favors because he did absolutely nothing wrong.
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Hobo Boondocks
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:11pmDon’t you just love how reasonable and accommodating these jokers get when very bad publicity and a lawsuit stares them in the face? How much business and potential settling out of court money will they lose because of this stupid series of bad decisions?
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Caniac Steve
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:23pmagree 16.45 trillion % they will pay up the butt…just as & hopefully NMBC will with smearing George Zimmerman !! but that’s another topic for another day !!
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Rob in Katy
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:45pmJAYCEN, the thing is the record is never fully expunged. within hours it is all over the country and into the FBI files and from there it is never deleted.
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Polwatcher
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:56pmCar salesmen do laugh and brag how they conned customers into paying top price. They call it a “lay down”. Here, the shoe was clearly on the other foot. They call the police and have their “valuable” customer slammed in jail. They give him an arrest record that will last for the rest of his life. They ruin his reputation with his friends and neighbors. His kids are embarresed with their friends. All because some arrogant car dealer screw up for a change and lost some money on a deal.
I would decide how much that dealership was worth and I would go after the dealer for that amount.
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kathleenlee
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:56pmWhen I was in 8th or 9th grade…my dad and mom bought a cadillac…they new the dealer…and got what they thought was a great deal…it turned out better than that…it was fantastic…the dealer started calling demanding they return the car..their lawyer told them to hide the car and he would fix it..took two weeks..and they got a brand new cadillac for 2700…remember they were like 5500 to 6500 way back then…and it was a fleetwood…whoo hoo..they were so happy…we were always poor…but this made there day…and probably there year…I miss those two…
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PlowMan
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:39pmI worked for three different dealers. They were all three crooks. I know there are some good ones out there but they are few and far between. Best to buy a used car off of an individual or a company you KNOW is reputable. New cars are not worth it, wake up America!!
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sacwoodpusher
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:40pmIf Sawyer had ben arrested in CA, he would have had his DNA recorded, and after the case is determined to have no merit, the data is retained.
10 million would not be out of line to have lost control of that data to big brother. a contract is a contract. Sawyer is right to sue.
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Misty Williams
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 6:07pmSomebody’s in line for new cars every year and free service for a lifetime. That’s what I’d be asking for, anyway.
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db321
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 6:14pmI smell Law Suit – Huge!
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subic
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 6:51pmI’d also try to sue the police for not having the facts straight and keeping me in the slammer for 4 days..thats bullsh(t
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Wolfgang the Gray
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 8:20pmI can see the headlines now. “Priority Chevrolette pays $2.2 Million in stupid tax. Sales rep behind the mistake fired.”
Attention to detail is everything.
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AirborneVet
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 8:51pmI wouldn’t be too hard on the police, they have to go by statements by the “victim”, in this case the car dealership. I would like to know exactly what the dealership wrote in their complaint before blaming the police, they may have just been doing their job. If the dealership manager or whoever filed the complaint was not truthful then they need to be charged with filing a false police report. I think 2.2mil is reaching a little, but then again it wasn’t me that had to sit in jail. I would try to work out a deal with the dealership if the guys attorneys only collect if they win at trial, just so the lawyers don’t profit, I hate lawyers.
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Wolf
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 9:02pmThat’s BHO Motors for you… lie like a fiend to cheat you, then accuse you of cheating them when they screw up.
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cliffvettej
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 9:20pmAs a veteran of 28 years in the car business in numerous positions of responsibility I would like to say that if the dealership puts in the wrong price with the correct vin number they have to eat it. And second, there are no “smokey back rooms”. I never worked in a dealership after 1993 that allowed smoking in the dealership. Outside in designated smoking areas yes, inside NO!
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D-Fence
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 10:06pmI hear there is a Sales Manager position available at that dealership.
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pdw
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 10:45pmWell, at least they did not murder the car owner. When I lived in Maryland a man bought his car but asked that when they finished the prep work to park the car outside the dealership so he could pick the car up after work. Well the night watchman killed him while he was trying to show he that the car was his.
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claymoremacm
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 12:13amI had my wife’s watch serviced and it was losted by the shipping company. they sent me 2 watches amounting to the same value of the lost watch……so there i was with double the value x3 of the value of my wife’s watch(it was a old watch) when they OMG found my wife’s watch………OH Please can you send back the watches and we will send you toyr wife’s watch? So I had triple the nvalue I paid for my wife’s watch in hand,,,,,,what did I do?,,,,,,,I sent their watch’s back and got the original back 10,000 dollar loss in value…..it was after a spare,gut they ndid value it at 10,000 ROLEX
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Pilgrimsarbour
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 12:16amIn my business, if I undercharge a customer, I eat it. Granted, I don’t work in the multi-thousand dollar eat it range, but still…
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AnAmericanToo
Posted on October 9, 2012 at 10:20pmGives one a warm fuzzy feeling to have a lawyer on one’s side in an event like this.
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AnAmericanToo
Posted on October 9, 2012 at 10:22pmQuincySmith — “See Mr. Sawyer found a way”…THAT is funny!!!
Has the police department brought charges against the dealership or whomever called the police for making a false police report?
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ghoststrike
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:00pmThis is Classic. A government run business would throw someone else in jail for their own mistake. Its all related
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AirborneVet
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 8:45pmGovernment ran? You’re kind of an idiot dude.
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mrspeedwagon
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 10:35pmYeah government run. Airborne. What planet have YOU been living on? GM owes the taxpayers 50Billion Dollars, and until they pay, the Government OWNS THEM
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Armyduderetired
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 11:54pmPlus the fact that that dealership was reorganized and is democrat run. I wonder how much they’ve donated to Obutfuc.
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ChappellGirl5
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:45amBut they want to pay it back & buy back the government’s interest in it, but our illustrious leader won’t allow them to. Ford obviously had the right idea when they refused the bail out, keep government’s hands out of their company & government can’t tell them what to do.
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Goldline_scam
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 11:32amTo all of the intellectually-challenged right wing nut-jobs: Car dealerships are independently owned franchises. The are not owned by GM, nor are they owned or at all influenced by the Government.
What is wrong with you people? Are you really THAT dumb??
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its_the_end_of_the_world_as_we_know_it
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:59pmI wouldn’t sue for 2.2 million, I like mercy when I make mistakes or when I freak out and make bad decisions. If Sawyer likes mercy, he should be merciful.
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hcartexas
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:16pmBodily Liberty has no price. Having someone arrested is serious business, and requires serious restitution. 2.2 million sounds about right. They knew the car wasnt stolen, they filed a false police report, they had the man arrested, they need to pay, and dearly.
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OniKaze
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:22pmI agree, but I wouldn’t be opposed to him suing for the cost of the car, so in then end he pays NOTHING for it as most Chevy vehicles are not worth their paint job, let alone what the car costs…. But, 2.2 Mil. is a little TOO much…
I mean, he didn’t spend the weekend in jail let alone in a place like Riker’s Island, just 4 hours in county… I think $40k+ legal fees is more than enough for 4 hours of inconvenience….
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FatManChew
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:27pmMistakes are one thing and are forgivable. Knowing lie to make another person suffer for your mistake should not warrant forgiveness.
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DemonSlayer
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:40pm“I’m sorry” doesn’t quite cut it here. This dealership deserves this lawsuit. They make a mistake and then harrass the guy over their own mistake, then have him arrested on a FALSE charge. Not only should they get sued for having someone’s reputation and record tarnished, but also be charged for filing a false police report. Over $5,000.00! That’s beans compared to what they put this man through. He can forgive this dealership 2.2 million ways after he wins his case.
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PaxInVeritate
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:05pm“… Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…”
Calumny is a sin. But if one recognizes their fault and repents, forgiveness is warranted. However, if one is uttering a mea culpa to save ones business is it truly authentic? From what is reported in this story, this businessman knew after this happened that he had stepped on a Bouncing Betty, and is trying to disarm it before it goes click boom in his face and kisses his business goodbye.
If you make a mistake in business own up to it and move on. Compounding the mistake with another one is bad business.
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Domandred
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:42pmSome background checks and public records will show charges and everything even if all charges were dropped. This means it’s possible Danny will have a grand theft auto charge following him around for the rest of his life.
HR departments then see the charge and don’t care if it was a BS charge like this one. All they see is a charge and that he spend the day in jail for it. Then they don’t hire Danny, oh sure they’ll tell him they found a better candidate or something like it that can’t be verified.
2.2 million is about right imo.
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762x51
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:07pmSawyer will have an arrest on his record forever. Even though the court records, etc. can be expunged it NEVER goes off the police records. That is worth WAY more than $2.2M in my book. False reporting of a crime is in itself a crime.
Sawyer should end up OWNING the dealership, besides how many in that town will want to do business with them once they find out that the dealer will accuse them of a crime through no fault of their own?
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Shifty6
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:53pmYeah they are sorry because they got caught. Now they are going to be REAL sorry. I don’t think 2.2 million is fair but….certainly several hundred thousand if not 1 million dollars. I have heard of dealers doing this on numerous occasions. When the shoe is on the other foot, and the customer realizes they paid too much the dealer doesn’t let them come back in and re-negotiate.
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its_the_end_of_the_world_as_we_know_it
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 6:34pmI’m just saying I wouldn’t sue for 2.2 million and that I prefer mercy over revenge. If there are some damages, I’m sure the dealership would pick that up and more [now] or perhaps sue for those. This stolen car call to the PD could have been someone in finance trying to cover his bu#t before his bosses found out. I really doubt the entire dealership collaborated and came up with this brain-dead idea. It’s probably a little early to put the entire dealership on a spit. imo
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its_the_end_of_the_world_as_we_know_it
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 6:41pmBesides… when the cashier at the grocery gives you change for a twenty when you just gave the person a ten… is keeping it the right thing to do? I’m not making light of the dealerships escalation, but I’m assuming Sawyer was not the friendliest person when the dealership initially called him with their mistake.
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2Amendment
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 10:52pmMaking a mistake on the price and attempting to renegotiate is one thing. Swearing out a false arrest warrent does not require forgiveness it requireS using the teachable moment to teachable momnet to teach a huge lesson. I would sue the individual personally as well as the dealership.
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Watchingtheweasels
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 2:18amNot a question of mercy. In my line of work I face a battery of questions from “have you been arrested” to “have you ever had a dui” on an annual basis. 2.2 for false arrest and imprisonment – not to mention ruining his name – is far too little. If this happened to me, I would be dealing with the fallout for the rest of my life.
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Sy Kosys
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:58pmFortunately for the dealership, Mr Sawyer isn’t black, although he *could* be 1/32nd Native American…
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johnjamison
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:26pmHow dare you insult his imaginary heritage according the MSNBC REPORTERS IF YOU THINK YOU’RE BLACK THEN YOU ARE BLACK.
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hauschild
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:55pm39k for a freakin’ GM product??? Have people lost their minds???
I’d kick this dudes suit out of court just for supporting an absolute sham that is General Motors.
On a side note, why are conservatives continuing to validate socialist ideologies by purchasing these vehicles? Funny how many people I see railing on the left, yet drive GM and Chrysler crap.
Gonna walk the walk or just talk the talk???
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Landon410
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:08pmyou know chrysler is owned by Fiat and not the government right?
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Dudemau
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:25pmAgree. Bought a 2007 Ram pickup and put my own bumper sticker on.
“My next truck will be a Ford.
They didn’t take a bailout”
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johnjamison
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:27pmThat’s why I drive a toyota t-100 and a f 250
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busterpuddles
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:55pmI’m sorry Hauschild. I fouled (hand raised, head down). I bought a Chevy one year before the bailout and am ashamed of it.
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hauschild
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:00pmLANDON410:
Fiat doesn’t “own” Chrysler, they have a controlling stake.
For all intents and purposes, GM and Chrysler are BANKRUPT companies. They failed and they will fail again after all the smoke and mirrors have been removed.
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AirborneVet
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 8:59pmI don’t care if they are bankrupt or took a bailout, I would pay double vs buying foreign. Have some American pride people.
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thenailgirl
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 1:04amSorry @DUDEMAU but Ford sold out too. To the tune of almost $6 BILLION. http://search.yahoo.com/mobile/s?rewrite=72&.tsrc=apple&first=1&p=ford+gov+loan&pintl=en&pcarrier=AT%26T&pmcc=310&pmnc=410
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RetiredSF
Posted on October 6, 2012 at 8:48amI sold my paid-for Dodge truck and bought a used Toyota. I will not be buying anything touched by union hands ever again, if possible. They way I see it, the guy got what he deserved for buying from Government Motors. They cops are the ones who should be getting sued and fired.
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texas heat
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:53pmAdios sales manager!
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thibx
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:52pmshould never deal with the government. they will f you every time. i would not have a gm car if they gave it to me. all people are doing is supporting a business that can’t manage itself and the union that got a large portion of bailout.
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HKS
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:51pmWow, wouldn’t it be great if we all could just back out of a contract when we figure it out that we screwed up, I got a house I would like to talk about.
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johnjamison
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:29pmCall the police the mortgage company robbed you by selling you a house…let’s see if they that the mortgage company employees down town for 4 hours.
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NancyBee
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 7:16pmlol…
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bobdog19006
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 6:08pmIt’s black letter law. A contract is voidable when a mistake is made. Not void, but voidable.
I bought a Hyundai Sonata a year ago, which included a vet rebate that I pointed out at the time of the sale that I didn’t think I should receive because I had been a reservist, but it was enough to close the deal. A couple of weeks later, the dealership phoned and said that corporate had refused the rebate and would I please send them $1,000?
I pointed out that I raised the question before the sale, and they proceeded anyway to close the sale, so I turned them down, but offered to return the car and undo the entire transaction if they thought it was unfair. They still had my trade in on their lot, so I was fine with the idea.
To make a long story short, I kept the car and they ate the rebate.
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:51pmDanny Sawyer should have a very nice Christmas….until he has to pay his attorney. Then, he’ll have to sell his new SUV.
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lefty5005
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:50pmI think she will get 33 1/3% of his restitution. That is what it is in Florida. It will settle out of court and she will get 1/3 of what he gets and they all live happily ever after.
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FMJGunny
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:44pmCan’t you people read?
Sawyer has filed two lawsuits accusing the dealership of malicious prosecution, slander and defamation, among others, and is seeking $2.2 million in damages, plus attorney fees
see that last part? PLUS ATTORNEY FEES? I’m SURE this guys ATTORNEY will get the pound of flesh he/she desires and it WON’T be out of his clients part
the owner of this dealer will be on the hook for somewhere around three to four million – gotta cover TAXES as well, nicht war?
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cyansky
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:50pmSo the dealership screwed up. Yes they were wrong in arresting him. No, this has nothing to do with Government Motors, it was a screw up at the dealer by their sales guy.
THE BIG STORY HERE: The guy is now trying to sue for 2.2 Million dollars…to become an instant “lottery” winner over a $5,600 screw-up. That ticks me off and I hope the Judge throws the case out! Suing like this is a CANCER in America today.
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eyeaye
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:14pmI agree with you; however it is more than $5600. I was arrested by the NC State Patrol because the DMV merged my records with somebody with the same name, but a junior. HE had a DUI with a failure to appear and a resulting revoked license. I was in Iraq when he got his DUI. I lost a job over it, paid multiple fees and fines to the court and DMV to get my license back, and have been turned down for jobs that needed a background check. This was in February of 2011 and it is still on my record…and listed as “open”. I disagree with $2.2 million completely, agree with being merciful and forgiving, however it IS more than just $5600.
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hcartexas
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:17pmUmmm… They had the guy arrested. They filed a false report, they took away his liberty and embarassed him in front of his house, family, and friends. 2.2 million is about right.
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circleDwagons
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:29pm@EYEAYE, thanks for your service. Are you suing? did you contact your congressman? Best wishes
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Elena2010
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:36pmAmen, Eyeaye! Are you able to use NLSO to help get the record fixed since you were ACDU at the time of the NC screw-up or your records?
Yes, contact your local congressman. Hope its Rep. Walter Jones!
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Truth4SureNuff
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:56pmthat is what happens when you have less than 10% of the worlds population and over 75% of the worlds lawyers.
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tnman65
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:59pmVery well put. We have become a nation of frivolous lawsuits. Just give him the damn SUV. I would happily let someone arrest me and put me in jail for 4 hours if I got a 2 million paycheck. Anyone agreeing to give him that much money should be jailed.
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RavenGlenn
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:05pmI couldn’t disagree more. They filed a false police report and had his liberties voided. Not only that, but he is now within the police database and system. That is unacceptable. They should be hammered for what they did. Period. Not only should he be suing, but he should be charging them through the police for a false police report issued upon him.
To make matters worse, the dealership is telling him to keep the $5,600? Keep it?! He never had to pay it. He made a valid purchase and has the valid paperwork to prove it. It’s their screw up, not his. He never owed them $5,600 dollars, so they have no business in ‘allowing’ him to keep it.
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huey6367
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:50pmHow is a blue Chevy worth $5,600 more than a black Chevy?
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OniKaze
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:26pmPossibly what they charge for a “non-standard” car color…. (assuming that the model of car isn’t normally offered in Blue….. It sounds stupid, but there are many models of cars that you can chose some basic colors, but if that color isn’t listed they charge you for “repaint” in a custom color… even if it is just std. blue…)
Back in the day, my parents bought a Dodge Caravan that didn’t come in blue, but they wanted blue for some reason and it cost them extra to get one in blue (and it wasn’t a crazy color of blue, just std. blue…).
That van (at the time) only came in white, Black, Red, Grey, Brown and a few other colors, but Blue was not one of them.
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:32pmObama said Blacks in America aren’t worth as much, or that is what they would have you believe.
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RRFlyer
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:49pmOh Yeah, sure. 4 hours in jail is worth 2.2 million. People are so greedy. Sure the dealership did wrong, but it isn’t worth 2 million dollars. I can only side with Sawyer until he mentions lawsuit, then I hope he gets nothing and has to pay the court costs to boot. This is one of the things wrong with the country today. People want Lots for nothing. Heck I would spend 4 days, or 4 months in jail for 2.2 million dollars. This is just stupid.
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cyansky
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:53pmAmen
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Just_Us2
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:57pmIf you inflate your claim, you leave it in the hands of the jury to lower the amount, which could be a bit less. You also make it more attractive to settle out of court, just in case you get a jury that is generous. It’s a strategy, not a reasonable assessment of damages.
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AlphaProtocol
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:58pmAn arrest, even one that is thrown out can have lasting implications that damage a persons credibility. He was arrested IN FRONT of his home. I am sure it was reported in the news, etc. He may not get 2.2 million, but asking for any less would be ridiculous.
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fixer
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:37pmI see it as alearning moment…you don’t want to pat 2.2 million dollars,dont’t files false charges against someone and have them arrested for YOUR mistake.I hope he gets every penny!
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JeffJ1985
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 4:29pmIt’s called punitive damages. It’s done to discourage others from doing the same thing. If I got thrown in jail wrongly I sure as heck would sue someone for it. The police themselves should be investigated for arresting someone for not committing a crime.
And when you sue someone, it’s standard to ask for 10 times what you actually want.
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StarkeRaving
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 10:55pmhe now has an arrest record that will never go away- that is worth more than 2.2 mil
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progressiveslayer
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:48pmYou’re right the dealership made a mistake and now they’ll have to pay for their mistake. Even though the dealership said it would make it right they over reacted by having the man arrested.A contract is a contract and they eventually ate the loss but too little too late so a jury will decide.
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cyansky
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:55pmJury should throw the case out on “sorry, you can’t use this to become rich” clause. The case will force the dealership out of business and then those people at the dealership out of jobs. You think the mechanics in the back shop will be happy they lost their jobs because this greedy insect want 2.2 million bucks!
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:57pmIndeed, once the deal was done, it is binding; the dealership messed up. Then with having the man arrested, this is a clear case for the courts to impose a heavy sanction upon the dealers in giving damages to the buyer.
As you said, let the jury decide.
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progressiveslayer
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:15pm@Cyansky If the dealership had a competent sales manager they wouldn’t be in this position now would they? What makes you think he’ll get 2.2 mill that’s just what he’s suing for? It’ll be settled out of court and the dealership can find a competent sales manager because there’s plenty of people looking for work.
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hcartexas
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:22pmCYANSKY….. some advice… get wronfully arrested after doing nothing wrong, and then put a dollar value on it.
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PATTY HENRY
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:42pmOkay, tried to post but didn’t go thru, so apologize if two show up:
BOTH WRONG. Contractually Dealer blew it, then compounded it by having person arrested.
That’s a knee-jerk childish reaction. He needs to acknowledge that he did that, pay all attorney’s fees, make sure that the “WORLD KNOWS” that this man is totally innocent (however you do that after the charges were filed) and get that all worked out.
THEN, the buyer, knowing that he got something more than they’d bargained for needs to look at his ETERNAL life and he needs to either take the car back and get all his $ back or make some arrangement to pay for the overage he got. The same as you’d let a cashier at the grocery store she’d forgotten to charge you for the extra bag of chips. HONEST is HONEST. This buyer was wrong by stone-walling the dealer, you know. We all make mistakes and the object of living in an honest world is a WIN-WIN world too. Both handled it about as poorly as it could have been handled, but this life is just a classroom. I would make sure all the clearing up of my name and attys fees were taken care of then I would work towards a settlement of the overage. Thinkabout it.
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mkedgt2
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 6:11pm@CYANSKY — You must be a closet liberal, since you don;t seem to believe that people (and entities) must be responsible and accountable for their actions. If anyone at the dealership loses their job it will because the owner allowed (or did the deed himself) the staff to file false criminal charges, potentially costing Sawyer a large amount of money in the long term from opportunities missed due to the police record he now posses. I would say that $2.2M is him being fair and generous, I would be asking for a great deal more (including jail time for the owner).
Like I tell my daughter, if you want the good you need to take the bad,
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BODYBAG
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:47pm“Life is tough — but its tougher when you’re stupid”
- John Wayne
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:47pmThe police should have turned this whole thing over the district attorney when they learned of the cirumstances. If the car-dealer just told them he stole the car on a test drive…then that is different. If they told the police the truth when they called them, the police should have never arrested the man on such stupid evidence. Sue everyone involved in this debacle. General Motors is starting to act like the union thugs that run them.
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Vic Tory
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:33pmYeah, “the police acted stupidly”.
If Barack owned an SUV, it would look like this one.
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SREGN
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:46pmHow did they arrest him without any evidence in the first place?
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Elena2010
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:23pmLikely “probable cause” since they would believe the word of a local business.
Unless this dealership is a “flagship” dealer, it’s not run by GM. It’s run by a local business man or woman. It’s a franchise — for those who are pounding at the “union thugs” or “corporate” aspect.
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2smartobeadem
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:37pmdid you know that the dealerships that were closed did not give any contributions to Obama and the ones that did they were saved and bailed out
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4xeverything
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:45pmAt the begining of this story I felt bad for the guy but by the end I hope this guy loses the case. $2.2 mil for what?! Did they kill someone in his family. No! They made a mistake and are now doing what they can to correct it. Why is that never enough? Why do people demand fake apologies and then dismiss real ones?
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Just_Us2
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:54pmThe man has a signed, LEGAL contract. No fraud, no deceit. Is it OK for a dealership to allow you to drive off the lot with a signed contract, only to later on change their mind, say they made a mistake and imprison you? The man did not make a mistake, the dealership did. The man should NEVER have been called. You make a bad business deal you take your lumps and you move on. The transaction was complete, signed, sealed, delivered. It’s over. There is no recourse. If the man was overcharged and failed to read the contract and signed it, he would be just as screwed as the dealership.
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hcartexas
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:24pmThe dealership did not make a “mistake”. They willfully and wrongfully had the man falsely arrested. They LIED, in short. The dealership should pay dearly, 2.2million is a good start.
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4xeverything
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:26pmI understand that. I’m going to take a stab in the dark and say that some underling made a mistake and thought that he/she had a right to overeact as they did because their a$$ was on the line for the bad deal. The owner of the dealership then stepped up and took responsibility for that overeaction and apologized. He then went on to say that he would do everything he could to make it up to the man. Why is that not enough? This is not worth $2.2 mil.
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Elena2010
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:41pmI suspect several nitwits at the dealership are responsible.
They STOLE this man’s good name. Your name is all you really own.
FYI — this is why the Bible is so strongly worded toward liars that steal a good name (You shall not bear false witness, etc.)
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banjarmon
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:44pmTrade that Chevy for a Ford!!
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KeithOlberdink
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:44pmHe should be arrested, it’s a chevy.
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ThePostman
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:55pmGood point, lol! The guy bought a GM product, he is obviously a traitor!
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Mr.Fitnah
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:44pmSo the new name of the dealership will be “Sawyers Chevrolet” and rightly so.
And someone had better be going to jail for a long time may 300 years.
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cyansky
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:53pmNothing here justifies a 2.2M dollar court case. PERIOD.
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jvlag3
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 6:50amhad it been me…I’d be the proud new owner of a Chevy dealership, period!!!
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jvlag3
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 6:58amSorry the dealership screwed up and now its time to pay the piper…
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kickagrandma
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:40pmOh, boy. Don’t tell me they vote, too?????
That man now has $5,000.00 to donate to charity, pay off debts, donate to charity, return to the car dealership, donate to charity (did I say, “donate to charity”?); HOWEVER,since they had him arrested, I think he might NOT be considering the “return to the car dealership” choice.
Good grief, folks.
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Elena2010
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:20pmHe does not have the $5.6K in his pocket, Grandma. What he has is a vehicle that was supposed to be $5.6K more than what he paid.
The blue one probably has more bells and whistles than the black one he originally purchased.
The dealer is out the $5.6K.
Were I the guy (first, I would not have bought a GM product), I’d settle for a full page apology ad in the local paper and stories on whatever news channels carried the arrest. I would not sue the nitwits at the dealership.
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kickagrandma
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 3:59pm@Eleana ~~~
Seems to me he has it in his pocket. He didn’t spend it on the car now did he? I’d call that having it in my pocket.
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Elena2010
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:05pmPerhaps his budget did not allow for the extra $5.6K.
The man signed a contract for one price, was arrested because the salesman goofed it, and now you want him to make restitution for that which was not his fault?
We are, after all, a nation of laws and contracts.
So, respectfully, I disagree for one reason — his name was taken fm him and likely forever.
PS This is why I use auto buying services rather than negotiate w/the salesmen at a car dealer. It is a good bet, they did not lose money on the transaction. They likely did not make money on it or very little. Their mark-ups are ridiculously high. You would be appalled if you saw what they pay for the vehicles. It’s not like Wal-Mart which bases its income on volume. A car dealer can mark a vehicle up by 20 percent.
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jvlag3
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 7:02amThere was no cash involved…it was the price of the vehicle that was different…the blue one cost $5,600 more than the black one. Sorry it’s a binding contract, because once you drive it off the lot…it’s yours…my contract had that in big bold letters (three day rule didn’t applied)
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blackyb
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:40pmThat takes the cake.
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4xeverything
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:51pmI like cake.
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762x51
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 5:12pmMmmmmmmmmmm . .. . . Yellow cake with dark chocolate icing.
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Scottt01
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:40pmGotta Love Government Motors. I never heard about them calling the police every time they overcharged a customer.
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Unbelievable
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:52pmDealerships commit highway robbery every single day :~)
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smokeyridgerunner
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:39pmGo after their underwear also, they were wrong!
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marssnw
Posted on October 5, 2012 at 10:26amI was thinking the same thing. Then I would donate the dirty underwear to Hillary Clinton considering she likes to donate dirty underwear to charities. She might be fresh out of dirty undies you know.
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FaithfulFriend
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 1:39pmOf course you let the man keep the vehicle. He has a contract, you morons.
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thirstybird33
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 2:24pmYou should always read a contract before you sign it even if you are the one writing it.
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FstEti
Posted on October 4, 2012 at 11:11pmGreat point, FFF! So, the dealership is “willing” to honor the contract WRITTEN BY THEM! I say drag the dealership into Judge Judy to explain why their customer is liable for signing THEIR contract. At this point, the moronic president of the dealership should rip up the contract, turn the car over to the buyer, offer a SECOND vehicle of his choosing from anything on the lot for his wife/girlfriend/boyfriend. whatever, fire the salesman that made the mistake, fire the sales manager that signed off on it, and take those salary savings and hire a marketing manager who has the authority to make decisions before calling the police to arrest their customers. All that money spent in advertising and marketing the dealership down the drain because most likely someone was trying to cover their mistake. If the president himself made the call to the police, HE should resign and the buyer should be given HIS personal car too. Just because…………
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