Curl v. Volkswagen of America, Inc.

**Curl v. Volkswagen of America: Used Car Purchase Dispute** This case involved a worker who bought a used rental car from Volkswagen and later experienced problems with the vehicle. The buyer tried to sue Volkswagen for breach of warranty, claiming the company failed to honor promises about the car's quality and reliability. The buyer also attempted to use Ohio's Lemon Law, which typically protects consumers who purchase defective new vehicles. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of Volkswagen. The court determined that the buyer couldn't sue for breach of warranty because there was no direct contractual relationship between the buyer and Volkswagen - the buyer had purchased the car from a rental company, not directly from Volkswagen. Additionally, the court found that Ohio's Lemon Law only applies to new vehicles, not used cars that were previously rental vehicles. **What this means for workers:** If you buy a used car, even from a dealership, your warranty claims may be limited compared to buying new. You typically can only pursue warranty claims against whoever sold you the car directly, not the original manufacturer. Also, consumer protection laws like Lemon Laws usually don't cover used vehicle purchases, so workers have fewer legal protections when buying pre-owned cars.