A couple from San Jose is taking on a major automotive giant in court, alleging serious breaches of consumer protection laws. John Hayes and Valerie Hayes filed a complaint against Ford Motor Company in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, on September 20, 2024.
The plaintiffs claim that Ford Motor Company violated the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act by failing to honor express and implied warranties for their 2020 Ford Fusion. According to the complaint, the vehicle, which was purchased on May 5, 2023, has multiple defects that impair its use, value, and safety. Despite numerous repair attempts at authorized facilities, these issues remain unresolved. The plaintiffs argue that Ford's failure to address these problems constitutes a breach of both express and implied warranties under California law.
John and Valerie Hayes are seeking various forms of relief from the court. They demand actual damages amounting to $28,484.64, which represents the purchase price of the vehicle. Additionally, they seek consequential and incidental damages as well as restitution for all payments made towards the car. The plaintiffs also request civil penalties under the Song-Beverly Act equal to twice their actual damages due to what they describe as willful non-compliance by Ford.
The lawsuit further accuses Ford of engaging in unfair business practices in violation of California Business and Professions Code § 17200. The complaint alleges that Ford knowingly sold vehicles with defective components and failed to make necessary repairs despite being aware of these issues. This conduct is described as unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent under state law.
The plaintiffs are represented by Neal F. Morrow III from MES Legal Inc., based in Long Beach, CA, and Ryan K. Marden from Marden Law Inc., located in Irvine, CA. They are seeking not only monetary compensation but also injunctive relief to prevent Ford from continuing its alleged unfair business practices.
In summary, John Hayes and Valerie Hayes are pursuing a comprehensive legal action against Ford Motor Company for failing to uphold consumer warranty protections and engaging in deceptive business practices. They hope the court will grant them both financial restitution and measures to ensure such violations do not continue.