CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey's office recently sued a Kanawha County used car dealer it accused of selling unsafe vehicles amid a pattern of allegations that violates various facets of the state’s consumer protection laws.
Mr. V & Sons Pre-Owned Auto Sales, Inc. and owners Sohrab Vagheei and son Camron Vagheei are named as defendants in the complaint filed September 2 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
According to the complaint, the dealership had 11 consumer complaints filed against it from residents of Boone, Fayette and Kanawha counties.
Their complaints include allegations that Mr. V & Sons sold vehicles with numerous mechanical problems and refused to take responsibility for repairs. Examples include a failed transmission within 24 hours of purchase, faulty brakes, a broken rear spring and rusted frames, as well as other issues that rendered the vehicles unable to pass a state safety inspection.
“Businesses that cheat the consumer – whether large or small – must be held accountable,” Morrisey said in a statement. “Our state has many reputable car dealerships, however, those who seek to deceive consumers should be on notice.
"We intend to go to court and prove the allegations in our complaint.”
The lawsuit also says Mr. V & Sons misled consumers and failed to honor its warranty obligations, disclose the terms and conditions of financing and failed to give customers a notice of their right to take care of default payments. The company also is accused of having failed to transfer and deliver car titles within 60 days from the date of sale and having sold vehicles “As Is” without providing the required disclaimer, according to the complaint.
The AG's office seeks civil penalties, restitution and a court order to permanently block the defendants from any similar violation of the state’s Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
Handing the case for the AG's office is Senior Assistant AG Norman Googel and Assistant AG Tanya Godfrey. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Maryclaire Akers.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 21-C-775
