Claiming their fairly new Ford vehicles keep breaking down, a pair of Jefferson County residents have sought the legal expertise of plaintiff's attorney Richard Dalton, who has filed two separate Lemon Law suits against Ford and the dealerships who sold the them the vehicles.
On behalf of his clients, Matthew Lavergne and Rene Batiste, attorney Dalton filed the suits on March 17 in the Jefferson County District Court. The two suits closely resemble one another.
The Texas Lemon Law is a state law that helps consumers who have repeated problems getting new or leased vehicles properly repaired.
First, Lavergne (Case No. E181-433) bought a 2008 Ford F-250 from Kinsel Ford for $44,753.17 on March 14, 2007.
Since purchasing the truck, Lavergne has experienced "numerous problems," including problems with the truck's fuel and exhaust system.
Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd Judicial District, has been assigned to Lavergne's case.
Secondly, Batiste (Case No. E181-444) bought her 2007 Ford Taurus from Philpott Motors for $27,676.41 on Nov. 27, 2007.
Batiste claims her car has leaked incessantly.
Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd Judicial District, has also been assigned to Batiste's case.
Neither suit states if the dealerships who sold the plaintiffs the vehicles attempted to compensate the plaintiffs for their allegedly defective vehicles.
However, both suits state that Ford and the respective dealerships are guilty of violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act.
"Plaintiff(s) further contend that Defendants' violations of the DTPA were committed knowingly and intentionally," the suits say.
The plaintiffs are suing for actual and consequential damages, plus all court costs and are requesting a trial by jury.
Richard C. Dalton is a Louisiana consumer attorney specializing in lemon law and warranty claims. The Dalton & Associates Web site states that he has "personally handled over 8,000 lemon law/warranty claims in Louisiana and Texas."
Batiste (Case No. E181-444).
Lavergne (Case No. E181-433).