TOLEDO, Ohio (Legal Newsline) - Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced a lawsuit on Friday against a Monroe, Michigan-based car dealership for allegedly using deceptive advertisements.
Monroe Dodge-Chrysler Inc., doing business as Monroe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Superstore, sells new and used vehicles and advertises in print and online to consumers in Ohio and Michigan. Monroe Dodge-Chrysler allegedly violated Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act by advertising prices for which not all consumers qualified, failing to clearly disclose important conditions or exclusions of a sale and failing to disclose all required terms.
"Businesses that advertise to Ohio consumers must follow Ohio's rules," DeWine said. "Otherwise, it's not fair to consumers or to businesses that do follow the rules. The office has worked with this dealership on many occasions to address advertising violations, but the problems continue to resurface."
DeWine's office previously entered into agreements with Monroe Dodge-Chrysler to address similar allegations of advertising violations. DeWine's office alleged that advertising violations continued despite the agreements.
DeWine's lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the alleged violations, civil penalties and reimbursement for any affected consumers.
DeWine's office offers a publication called "Guidelines for Motor Vehicle Advertising" which is meant to help dealerships comply with state law. The publication works cooperatively with dealer associations to provide advertising compliance presentations.
Ohio AG sues Michigan car dealer over advertisements
