What is the name of your state? Colorado
I purchased a car 2.5 years ago and recently received a letter in the mail from the Department of Justice saying that the odometer has been tampered with. Records indicate that when I purchased the car, it had AT LEAST 62,000 miles more on it than the odometer indicated. The dealer who did the tampering has been indicted for 10 counts, but there are over 100 cars involved that they know of.
I want to sue him in small claims court.
My questions:
1) Can I sue him in small claims court? Are my chances pretty good of getting a judgment against him?
2) The federal statue on odometer fraud indicates I can collect civilly $1,500 or treble damages whichever is greater. Is this the case in my state as well? I can find the statue that says it is illegal to tamper with odometers, but not the recourse for consumers.
3) The paperwork I received with my letter says I can base my damages on an “industry mileage deduction guide”, but I have been unable to find any that aren’t for tax purposes. Is the tax depreciation (between 7 and 12 cents per mile depending on the year of the car) the industry mileage they might be referring to?
4) Is there a better subforum to post this in?
Any help is appreciated!
I purchased a car 2.5 years ago and recently received a letter in the mail from the Department of Justice saying that the odometer has been tampered with. Records indicate that when I purchased the car, it had AT LEAST 62,000 miles more on it than the odometer indicated. The dealer who did the tampering has been indicted for 10 counts, but there are over 100 cars involved that they know of.
I want to sue him in small claims court.
My questions:
1) Can I sue him in small claims court? Are my chances pretty good of getting a judgment against him?
2) The federal statue on odometer fraud indicates I can collect civilly $1,500 or treble damages whichever is greater. Is this the case in my state as well? I can find the statue that says it is illegal to tamper with odometers, but not the recourse for consumers.
3) The paperwork I received with my letter says I can base my damages on an “industry mileage deduction guide”, but I have been unable to find any that aren’t for tax purposes. Is the tax depreciation (between 7 and 12 cents per mile depending on the year of the car) the industry mileage they might be referring to?
4) Is there a better subforum to post this in?
Any help is appreciated!
Last edited: