The following is a list of some of the verdicts and settlements Steve has obtained on behalf of his clients. Each case is different, however, and these results should not be interpreted as a guarantee that like results will be achieved in each case.
appellate court decisions
Diane R. Henderson (f/k/a Diane M. Reed) vs. Summerville Ford Mercury, Inc.
Practice Area: Fraud
Description: Client bought a car for her daughter. A Dorchester County dealership sold the car without disclosing that it had been previously wrecked. Client sued in State Court. The dealership forced client into arbitration. The arbitrator found for client. The arbitrator’s award was confirmed by the trial court as a judgment against the Dealer. The Dealer appealed claiming it had paid the amount in the Order so the Order should not have been entered into the record.
Outcome: The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled in favor of client. The dealership then had to pay an additional $184,000 in attorney’s fees.
Practice Area: Fraud
Description: Client bought a car for her daughter. A Dorchester County dealership sold the car without disclosing that it had been previously wrecked. Client sued in State Court. The dealership forced client into arbitration. The arbitrator found for client. The arbitrator’s award was confirmed by the trial court as a judgment against the Dealer. The Dealer appealed claiming it had paid the amount in the Order so the Order should not have been entered into the record.
Outcome: The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled in favor of client. The dealership then had to pay an additional $184,000 in attorney’s fees.
Austin v Stokes Craven Holding Company
Practice Area: Fraud
Description: Dealership misrepresented prior wreck damage to a 2000 Ford F250 truck. Dealership also forged client's name on the Buyers Guide. The client simply wanted his money back, but the dealership refused. On appeal, this case established new law in South Carolina as the SC Supreme Court determined that a consumer can recover actual and punitive damages under a fraud claim and receive attorney's fees under an unfair trade practices claim.
Outcome: Jury found for Mr. Austin in the amount of $26,371.10 in actual damages and $216,600 in punitive damages. On appeal, the Supreme Court of South Carolina found that $49,936.50 in trial level fees was also warranted. After thirteen years and two appeals, the Defendant paid over $1,000,000.
Practice Area: Fraud
Description: Dealership misrepresented prior wreck damage to a 2000 Ford F250 truck. Dealership also forged client's name on the Buyers Guide. The client simply wanted his money back, but the dealership refused. On appeal, this case established new law in South Carolina as the SC Supreme Court determined that a consumer can recover actual and punitive damages under a fraud claim and receive attorney's fees under an unfair trade practices claim.
Outcome: Jury found for Mr. Austin in the amount of $26,371.10 in actual damages and $216,600 in punitive damages. On appeal, the Supreme Court of South Carolina found that $49,936.50 in trial level fees was also warranted. After thirteen years and two appeals, the Defendant paid over $1,000,000.
Kucharski v Rick Hendricks
Practice Area: Fraud
Description: Mr. Kucharski tried to buy a vehicle from Rick Hendrick. Rick Hendrick could not sell the retail installment sales contract. It refused to give Mr. Kucharski his trade in back even though he demanded its return. Finally, Rick Hendrick convinced Nationsbank to buy the contract after it forged another person's name on the contract. Mr. Kucharski refused to pay for the vehicle. The car was repossessed and Mr. Kucharski was left without a vehicle.
Outcome: The jury found for Mr. Kucharski in the amount of $16,500. This was trebled by the court for a verdict of $49,500. The Court of Appeals ordered Rick Hendricks to pay attorney's fees of $26,000.
Practice Area: Fraud
Description: Mr. Kucharski tried to buy a vehicle from Rick Hendrick. Rick Hendrick could not sell the retail installment sales contract. It refused to give Mr. Kucharski his trade in back even though he demanded its return. Finally, Rick Hendrick convinced Nationsbank to buy the contract after it forged another person's name on the contract. Mr. Kucharski refused to pay for the vehicle. The car was repossessed and Mr. Kucharski was left without a vehicle.
Outcome: The jury found for Mr. Kucharski in the amount of $16,500. This was trebled by the court for a verdict of $49,500. The Court of Appeals ordered Rick Hendricks to pay attorney's fees of $26,000.
Strock v. Southern Farm Bureau
Practice Area: Insurance
Description: Dr. Strock owned a house on the front beach of Folly Beach. Hurricane Hugo moved the house to the back of the lot. Southern Farm Bureau refused to pay the policy limits stating that most of the damage was done when the tidal surge came on shore. At trial, a computer generated animation was used to show how the house was damaged during the storm. It was the first time in the country a computer animation was used in the courtroom to show the effects of a hurricane. The use of the animation was upheld on appeal by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Outcome: Jury verdict in favor of Dr. Strock in the amount of $46,001.50.
Practice Area: Insurance
Description: Dr. Strock owned a house on the front beach of Folly Beach. Hurricane Hugo moved the house to the back of the lot. Southern Farm Bureau refused to pay the policy limits stating that most of the damage was done when the tidal surge came on shore. At trial, a computer generated animation was used to show how the house was damaged during the storm. It was the first time in the country a computer animation was used in the courtroom to show the effects of a hurricane. The use of the animation was upheld on appeal by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Outcome: Jury verdict in favor of Dr. Strock in the amount of $46,001.50.
arbitrations
Practice Area: Unfair Trade Practice Claim
Description: Clients bought a brand new 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T Plus 100th Anniversary Edition. Clients learned the Challenger had been damaged in transport and repaired. The dealer did not follow the SC Damage Disclosure Law. Clients were forced into arbitration.
Outcome: The arbitrator found for clients under the SC Dealers Act in the amount of $143,818.20 and awarded attorney's fees and costs in the amount of $117,416.53.
Description: Clients bought a brand new 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T Plus 100th Anniversary Edition. Clients learned the Challenger had been damaged in transport and repaired. The dealer did not follow the SC Damage Disclosure Law. Clients were forced into arbitration.
Outcome: The arbitrator found for clients under the SC Dealers Act in the amount of $143,818.20 and awarded attorney's fees and costs in the amount of $117,416.53.
Practice Area: Unfair Trade Practice
Description: Client, who was a war veteran with PTSD, bought a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 for $24,000. He put $8,000 cash down. Client was late on his first payment, and the bank made the dealership buy the Retail Installment Sales Contract back. Client then paid two payments to catch up, but dealership demanded the return of the truck or $15,000. Client refused. Dealership took the truck and sold it at auction.
Outcome: The arbitrator found in favor of client and awarded client $336,655.63.
Description: Client, who was a war veteran with PTSD, bought a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 for $24,000. He put $8,000 cash down. Client was late on his first payment, and the bank made the dealership buy the Retail Installment Sales Contract back. Client then paid two payments to catch up, but dealership demanded the return of the truck or $15,000. Client refused. Dealership took the truck and sold it at auction.
Outcome: The arbitrator found in favor of client and awarded client $336,655.63.
jury verdicts
Practice Area: Fraud
Description: Clients bought a 2003 Honda Civic at an auto auction. Clients later learned the Civic was "clipped" which means the front end of the vehicle was from one vehicle and the back end of the vehicle was from another vehicle. Clients also learned that the dealer had previously sold the car as a certified pre-owned Honda to a customer who later returned the vehicle when he learned it was a "clipped" vehicle.
Outcome: A Richland County jury found for the clients in the amount of $6,645.00 actual damages and $2,381,888.00 in punitive damages.
Description: Clients bought a 2003 Honda Civic at an auto auction. Clients later learned the Civic was "clipped" which means the front end of the vehicle was from one vehicle and the back end of the vehicle was from another vehicle. Clients also learned that the dealer had previously sold the car as a certified pre-owned Honda to a customer who later returned the vehicle when he learned it was a "clipped" vehicle.
Outcome: A Richland County jury found for the clients in the amount of $6,645.00 actual damages and $2,381,888.00 in punitive damages.
Practice Area: Fraud
Description: Client bought an F-150 pickup truck. He had been told it had not been wrecked. It turned out the truck had previously been totaled. The dealer failed to tell client about the prior wreck.
Outcome: The jury found for client under the SC Unfair Trade Practices Act in the amount of $25,578.00 which was trebled by the court for a total of $76,734.00. The Court awarded attorney's fees of $70,650 and costs in the amount of $4,656.59.
Description: Client bought an F-150 pickup truck. He had been told it had not been wrecked. It turned out the truck had previously been totaled. The dealer failed to tell client about the prior wreck.
Outcome: The jury found for client under the SC Unfair Trade Practices Act in the amount of $25,578.00 which was trebled by the court for a total of $76,734.00. The Court awarded attorney's fees of $70,650 and costs in the amount of $4,656.59.
Practice Area: Lemon Law
Description: Clients bought a Jeep that turned out to be defective. Defendant refused to buy the Jeep back under the SC Lemon Law.
Outcome: Jury found for clients. Defendant was ordered to pay $17,126.40 for the Jeep and $73,050 towards clients' attorney's fees.
Description: Clients bought a Jeep that turned out to be defective. Defendant refused to buy the Jeep back under the SC Lemon Law.
Outcome: Jury found for clients. Defendant was ordered to pay $17,126.40 for the Jeep and $73,050 towards clients' attorney's fees.
settlements
Practice Area: Lemon Law
Description: Client bought a brand new 2011 Dodge Charger. That paint had been damaged in transport.
Outcome: Chrysler repurchased the vehicle and was ordered to pay attorney's fees and costs in the amount of $72,154.47. The total amount of the settlement was $107,651.06.
Description: Client bought a brand new 2011 Dodge Charger. That paint had been damaged in transport.
Outcome: Chrysler repurchased the vehicle and was ordered to pay attorney's fees and costs in the amount of $72,154.47. The total amount of the settlement was $107,651.06.
Practice Area: Lemon Law
Description: Clients bought a brand new 2012 Ford Focus that had various electrical problems, problems with Sync, and transmission and clutch issues.
Outcome: Ford paid clients $85,000, and the clients kept the vehicle.
Description: Clients bought a brand new 2012 Ford Focus that had various electrical problems, problems with Sync, and transmission and clutch issues.
Outcome: Ford paid clients $85,000, and the clients kept the vehicle.
Practice Area: Fraud
Description: Client bought a 1988 Ford Mustang from a dealership through eBay. The dealership misrepresented the Mustang when client asked if the car had any rust. Client bought car and had it transported to South Carolina. The Mustang was so rusted underneath it was unsafe to drive.
Outcome: Defendants settled the case for $180,000.00
Description: Client bought a 1988 Ford Mustang from a dealership through eBay. The dealership misrepresented the Mustang when client asked if the car had any rust. Client bought car and had it transported to South Carolina. The Mustang was so rusted underneath it was unsafe to drive.
Outcome: Defendants settled the case for $180,000.00