Catrett v. Landmark Dodge, Inc.

560 S.E.2d 101 (2002)

253 Ga. App. 639

CATRETT, v. LANDMARK DODGE, INC. et al.

No. A01A2153.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

February 11, 2002.

*102 Power & Westbury, Warren R. Power, Stockbridge, LeAnne P. Cooper, for appellant.

Schulten, Ward & Turner, David L. Turner, Lea B. Kirschner, Atlanta, for appellees.

RUFFIN, Judge.

On June 19, 1999, Craig Catrett purchased a 1999 Dodge Dakota truck from Landmark Dodge, Inc. ("Landmark"). Approximately 14 months later, Catrett sued Landmark for fraud, rescission, and violation of the Fair Business Practices Act and the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, alleging that the dealership fraudulently induced him to purchase the truck by misrepresenting its condition. Landmark moved for summary judgment, which the trial court granted. Catrett appeals, and for reasons that follow, we affirm in part and reverse in part.

Summary judgment is appropriate when no genuine issue of material fact remains and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a *103 matter of law.[1] On appeal from a grant of summary judgment, a de novo standard of review applies, "and we view the evidence, and all reasonable conclusions and inferences drawn from it, in the light most favorable to the nonmovant."[2] Viewed in this light, the evidence shows that Catrett purchased the truck with approximately 4,700 miles on it. According to Catrett's verified complaint,[3] a Landmark salesman represented that the truck, which had a new car price information sticker inside it, was a "demonstrator" that had been on Landmark's lot "for some time." As defined by Landmark's general manager, "[a] `demonstrator' is a new car which has been driven by dealership personnel but not yet titled."

Based upon the salesman's representation, Catrett bought the truck. He also purchased an extended warranty, and Landmark prepared a warranty contract that specifically stated that it applied only to new vehicles. On June 19, 1999, Catrett signed the warranty contract, a tag application, a purchase agreement, and a finance agreement. Although the warranty contract referred to "new vehicles," the other three documents indicated that the truck Catrett purchased was "used." The vehicle invoice similarly classified the truck as "used," and another form stated that Landmark sold the vehicle "as is."

On May 15, 2000, Catrett took the truck to Landmark for service. At that point, he learned that the truck's front end was misaligned and that a nonfactory weld had broken, rendering the vehicle inoperable and unsafe. After further investigation, he discovered that the truck was not a demonstrator, but had been previously owned and involved in two wrecks, causing over $8,500 in damage. The prior owner sold the truck to Landmark and told the dealership that it had been in a collision.

On June 6, 2000, Catrett's attorney informed Landmark that, because its salesman misrepresented the condition of the truck, Catrett was rescinding the sales contract and tendering the vehicle to the dealership. Landmark refused to accept the truck, and this litigation ensued.

1. Catrett argues that the trial court erred in granting Landmark summary judgment on his fraud claim. We agree.

To establish fraud, Catrett must prove that (1) Landmark represented that the used truck was a "demonstrator"; (2) Landmark knew this representation was false; (3) by making this representation, Landmark intended to induce Catrett to purchase the truck; (4) Catrett justifiably relied on the representation; and (5) Landmark's actions proximately caused Catrett damage.[4] On summary judgment, Landmark did not dispute that Catrett presented sufficient evidence of a knowing and intentional misrepresentation that proximately damaged him. Instead, it focused on the fourth element, arguing that, as a matter of law, Catrett could not show justifiable reliance.

Under Georgia law, a dealer "demonstrator" is a "new" car becausedespite its use by the dealershipit has never been part of a retail sale.[5] Catrett claims that Landmark fraudulently represented to him that the truck was a "demonstrator" or "new," when it actually was "used." The evidence clearly shows that the truck had been previously sold and was, in fact, "used."[6] Landmark asserts, however, that Catrett could not justifiably rely on the alleged misrepresentation because various purchase documents characterized the truck as "used" and one form indicated that Landmark sold the vehicle "as *104 is." Nevertheless, other documents at least gave the impression that the truck had not been previously sold. According to Catrett, the manufacturer's new vehicle price sticker was "displayed" inside the truck when he purchased it. Furthermore, during the purchase transaction, he bought an extended warranty that specifically stated that it applied only to new vehicles.

Given these facts, we refuse to conclude as a matter of law that Catrett could not rely on the salesman's statement that the truck was a "demonstrator." Justifiable reliance generally is a question for the jury, and jury resolution is necessary here.[7] Although several documents referred to the truck as "used," others indicated that it was "new." Based on this evidence, a jury could find that Catrett reasonably believed the car was a demonstrator and that the "used" language simply referred to the truck's use by the dealership.[8]

Landmark's citation to Castellana v. Conyers Toyota[9] is not persuasive. In Castellana, a car salesman allegedly misrepresented that the credit application for a purchaser's car loan had been approved before the purchaser signed the financing documents. The court found, however, that numerous documents the purchaser read and signed stated, without contradiction, that the credit application had not yet been approved and that the dealership could repossess the vehicle if the application was rejected.[10] Accordingly, the purchaser could not rely on the alleged misrepresentation regarding the credit application.[11] In contrast, all documents involved in Catrett's purchase transaction did not characterize the truck as "used." Some indicated that it was a new vehicle, creating a jury question as to reasonable reliance.

Landmark also argues that a merger clause in the purchase contract "renders [Catrett's] fraud claim deficient as a matter of law." The record shows, however, that Catrett elected to rescind, rather than affirm, the purchase contract. Thus, the merger clause does not defeat his fraud claim.[12] The dealership further claims that Catrett failed to rescind the contract in a timely manner. "The question as to what is a reasonable or proper time within which to rescind a contract depends upon the facts of the particular case and is ordinarily a question for the jury."[13] Less than three weeks after Catrett learned about the truck's previous owner, his attorney wrote to Landmark, rescinded the purchase, and tendered the truck to the dealership. Under these circumstances, we cannot find Catrett's rescission untimely as a matter of law.[14]

Genuine issues of material fact remain as to Catrett's fraud allegation. Thus, the trial court improperly awarded Landmark summary judgment on this claim.

2. The trial court similarly erred in granting Landmark summary judgment on Catrett's claim under the Fair Business *105 Practices Act[15] ("FBPA"). The FBPA proscribes "[u]nfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of consumer transactions and consumer acts or practices in trade or commerce."[16] The legislation lists various activities that qualify as "unfair or deceptive acts or practices," including "[r]epresenting that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand."[17]

"A single instance of an unfair or deceptive act or practice is a sufficient predicate upon which to base a claim for damages [under the FBPA] if the public consumer interest would be served thereby."[18] To come within the FBPA, therefore, the deceptive activity must take place in the context of the consumer marketplace.[19] As we have found, "`[o]ffering a product for sale by opening one's door to the general public should trigger the prohibitions of the act if some deceptive act or practice [is] involved.'"[20] The FBPA does not apply, however, to transactions that are essentially private.[21]

Landmark argues that the FBPA does not govern Catrett's truck purchase because, in its view, the transaction was private or outside the consumer marketplace. It relies heavily on our decision in Medley v. Boomershine Pontiac GMC Truck[22] According to Landmark, Medley establishes that "misrepresentation of a used car as a `demonstrator' fails to state an actionable claim under the FBPA," undermining Catrett's FBPA allegations. We disagree and find Medley factually distinguishable. Not only did the dealership salesman in Medley misrepresent a used vehicle as a demonstrator, he kept part of the purchaser's down payment for his own use, did not disclose to the dealership that the purchaser had tendered a trade-in vehicle, and forged the purchaser's signature on a bill of sale. Based on these activities, the dealership terminated him. As described in Medley, the salesman's actions were "personal to him and outside the scope of his employment."[23] In short, this rogue salesman engaged in an essentially private transaction that occurred outside the dealership's general business and did not impact the consumer marketplace.[24]

No similar facts exist here. The record shows that Landmark opened its doors to sell vehicles to the general public. According to Catrett, he went to the dealership, expressed interest in a truck on Landmark's lot, received false information about the truck's condition, and, based on that information, consummated the sale. We refuse to characterize this transaction as private or outside the consumer marketplace.[25]

Furthermore, the evidence raises genuine issues of material facts regarding each element of Catrett's FBPA claim. "`A private FBPA claim has three essential elements: *106 a violation of the act, causation, and injury.'"[26] Viewed favorably to Catrett, the record shows that although Landmark knew the truck was used, a salesman told him that it was a "demonstrator," which is a new car under Georgia law. Catrett asserts that he relied on this representation in making the purchase, and, as we found in Division 1, a jury question remains as to reasonable reliance.[27] Moreover, given that Catrett thought he was buying a demonstrator vehicle with 4,700 miles, but actually received a used truck that had been in two significant collisions, factual questions remain regarding injury. Accordingly, the trial court erred in granting Landmark summary judgment on the FBPA claim.[28]

3. We agree with the trial court, however, that Catrett's Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act[29] ("UDTPA") claim cannot survive summary judgment. Under the UDTPA, "[a] person likely to be damaged by a deceptive trade practice of another may be granted an injunction against it under the principles of equity and on terms that the court considers reasonable."[30]

Like the FBPA, the UDTPA characterizes as deceptive a representation "that goods are original or new if they are deteriorated, altered, reconditioned, reclaimed, used, or secondhand."[31] Unlike the FBPA, however, injunctive relief is the only remedy permitted by the UDTPA.[32] By definition, an injunction provides relief from future wrongful conduct: "[t]he remedy by injunction is to prevent, prohibit or protect from future wrongs and does not afford a remedy for what is past."[33] Catrett contends that Landmark's 1999 misrepresentation injured him, and he now seeks to "enjoin Landmark [from] continuing its Deceptive Trade Practices." Yet, he has not presented any evidenceor even allegedthat he "is likely to be damaged" by these trade practices in the future.

Damage allegedly caused by the 1999 misrepresentation cannot be remedied through an injunction. To survive summary judgment, Catrett had to raise a factual question about the likelihood of some future wrong.[34] Because he failed to do so, the trial court properly granted Landmark summary judgment on the UDTPA claim.[35]

Judgment affirmed in part and reversed in part.

JOHNSON, P.J., and ELLINGTON, J., concur.

[1] See Dover v. Mathis, 249 Ga.App. 753, 549 S.E.2d 541 (2001).

[2] Id.

[3] See Hansen v. Mt. Yonah Scenic Estates Club, 227 Ga.App. 258, 259, 488 S.E.2d 732 (1997) ("`A properly verified pleading containing specific factual allegations must be considered in opposition to affidavits filed in support of a motion for summary judgment and may defeat the motion.'").

[4] See Crown Ford, Inc. v. Crawford, 221 Ga.App. 881, 884(3), 473 S.E.2d 554 (1996).

[5] See Kondo v. Marietta Toyota, 224 Ga.App. 490, 492(2), 480 S.E.2d 851 (1997); Toirkens v. Willett Toyota, 192 Ga.App. 109, 110(1), 384 S.E.2d 218 (1989).

[6] See Kondo, supra.

[7] See GCA Strategic Investment Fund v. Joseph Charles & Assoc., 245 Ga.App. 460, 465(3), 537 S.E.2d 677 (2000); Reilly v. Mosley, 165 Ga.App. 479, 481(1), 301 S.E.2d 649 (1983).

[8] See Toirkens, supra ("While the status of the title is apparently not an element of the statutory definitions of `new' versus `used' car, it nevertheless might affect whether the car was merely a `used demo' or was, in fact, a `used car' as those terms are commonly understood by consumers.") (emphasis supplied).

[9] 200 Ga.App. 161, 407 S.E.2d 64 (1991).

[10] See id. at 164, 407 S.E.2d 64.

[11] See id. at 165, 407 S.E.2d 64; see also Doanes v. Nalley Chevrolet, 105 Ga.App. 846, 847-848(1), 125 S.E.2d 717 (1962) (claimant could not justifiably rely on alleged representation that he would receive a greater trade-in allowance on old car because he signed an agreement providing that he would receive a smaller allowance).

[12] See City Dodge v. Gardner, 232 Ga. 766, 770, 208 S.E.2d 794 (1974); cf. Joseph Charles Parrish, Inc. v. Hill, 173 Ga.App. 97, 99-100(5), 325 S.E.2d 595 (1984) ("Where the purchaser affirms a contract which contains a merger or disclaimer provision and retains the purchased articles, he is estopped from asserting that he relied upon the seller's misrepresentations and his action for fraud must fail.") (punctuation omitted).

[13] (Punctuation and emphasis omitted.) Flair Fashions v. SW CR Eisenhower Drive, Inc., 207 Ga.App. 78, 79, 427 S.E.2d 56 (1993); Newton v. Burks, 139 Ga.App. 617, 618(3), 229 S.E.2d 94 (1976).

[14] See id. at 618-619, 229 S.E.2d 94; see also Neal Pope, Inc. v. Garlington, 245 Ga.App. 49, 53-54(2), 537 S.E.2d 179 (2000).

[15] OCGA § 10-1-390 et seq.

[16] OCGA § 10-1-393(a).

[17] OCGA § 10-1-393(b)(6); see also OCGA § 10-1-393(b)(7) (unfair and deceptive practices also include "[r]epresenting that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade or that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another").

[18] (Punctuation omitted.) Crown Ford, supra at 883(1), 473 S.E.2d 554.

[19] See Regency Nissan v. Taylor, 194 Ga.App. 645, 646(2), 391 S.E.2d 467 (1990).

[20] Id. at 646-647(2), 391 S.E.2d 467.

[21] See Borden v. Pope Jeep-Eagle, 200 Ga.App. 176, 178(1), 407 S.E.2d 128 (1991).

[22] 214 Ga.App. 795, 449 S.E.2d 128 (1994).

[23] Id. at 797(3), 449 S.E.2d 128.

[24] See id. at 796(2), 449 S.E.2d 128; see also Borden, supra at 178, 407 S.E.2d 128 (car dealership's alleged failure to honor simple interest installment loan agreement with purchaser did not affect consumer marketplace because dealership did not generally use this type of loan agreement and entered the agreement only at purchaser's insistence).

[25] See Crown Ford, supra at 883(1), 473 S.E.2d 554 ("A dealer's sale of a used car with an odometer reflecting less than actual mileage is an act which falls within the ambit of the FBPA because it takes place `within the context of the consumer marketplace.'"); Miles Rich Chrysler-Plymouth v. Mass, 201 Ga.App. 693, 697(3)(a), 411 S.E.2d 901 (1991) (physical precedent only)(car dealership's misrepresentations that vehicle had been ordered for purchaser and would arrive soon "clearly come within the FBPA requirement that the offensive activity have taken place within the context of the consumer marketplace"); Regency Nissan, supra at 647(2), 391 S.E.2d 467 (dealership's sale of stolen vehicle to claimant, who thought he was purchasing a used vehicle, took place "within the context of the consumer marketplace"); see also OCGA § 10-1-391(a) (FBPA should be liberally construed "to protect consumers and legitimate business enterprises from unfair or deceptive practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce in part or wholly in the state").

[26] Crown Ford, supra.

[27] See id. at 884(1), 473 S.E.2d 554 ("[J]ustifiable reliance is an essential element of an FBPA claim.").

[28] See Billy Cain Ford Lincoln Mercury v. Kaminski, 230 Ga.App. 598, 601-602(3), 496 S.E.2d 521 (1998); Crown Ford, supra at 883-884, 473 S.E.2d 554; Miles Rich Chrysler-Plymouth, supra at 697, 411 S.E.2d 901.

[29] OCGA § 10-1-370 et seq.

[30] OCGA § 10-1-373(a).

[31] OCGA § 10-1-372(a)(6); see also OCGA § 10-1-372(a)(7) (deceptive practices include representing "that goods or services are of a particular standard, quality, or grade or that goods are of a particular style or model, if they are of another").

[32] See Friedlander v. HMS-PEP Products, 226 Ga.App. 123, 124(1)(a), 485 S.E.2d 240 (1997).

[33] (Punctuation omitted.) Hunter v. George, 265 Ga. 573, 575(4), 458 S.E.2d 830 (1995).

[34] See id.; OCGA § 10-1-373(a); see also Robinson v. Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 315 Ill.App.3d 1086, 1098, 249 Ill.Dec. 120, 735 N.E.2d 724, 735 (2000) (construing provisions of Illinois Deceptive Trade Practices Act, 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. 510/1 et seq. (West 1996), which is similar to Georgia's UDTPA, court stated: "[w]hile the primary focus of the Uniform Act is on actions between competitors, a cause of action can be stated by an individual consumer where that consumer can allege facts that indicate he is likely to be damaged by defendant's conduct in the future").

[35] See OCGA § 10-1-373(a).