West Virginia Record

CHARLESTON -- A Nicholas County couple is suing Turnpike Ford and Fifth Third Bank after they claim a vehicle they purchased was defective.

On July 9, 2009, Chad Shafer and Jessica Shafer entered into a motor vehicle purchase contract with the defendants for the purchase of a 2005 Ford F150, according to a complaint filed March 8 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

The Shafers claim they were informed the vehicle had been in a minor accident in which it had bumped a parked vehicle causing hardly any damage and that the truck "was a 'good' truck that had been inspected by its shop."

Later, the Shafers later discovered and experienced repeated nonconformities with the vehicle, according to the suit, and returned the vehicle to Ford for servicing.

The Shafers claim the vehicle was never properly repaired and due to these problems, the couple took the vehicle to another dealership and inquired about trading it in on another vehicle.

At that time, the Shafers were informed that the vehicle had sustained significant prior damage that affected its value, according to the suit.

The Shafers claim the defendants failed and/or omitted to inform them of the true nature of the accident in which the vehicle was involved.

The Shafers are seeking for the contract involved to be canceled and compensatory damages. They are being represented by Kristina Thomas Whiteaker and David L. Grubb.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Paul Zakaib Jr.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-391