Can I sue a big corporation in small claims court?

[MoobyTheGoldenCalf]

Cliff Notes of issue:

Acura roadside assistance tows my car to an Acura dealer.
When they take it, my bumper is fine.
When I get it back, the bumper is cracked ($700 in damage).
Neither Acura roadside, the tow company or the dealer will fess up to the damage.
This has been going on a month now and I'm done screwing around with these clowns.

I figure since all these Bozos operate under the Acura umbrella, I'll just sue Acura Corporate.


I'm in Indiana. Acura is in CA. How do I sue them? Maybe that will get thier attention.

 

[FlyLice]

Not worth $700. Eat it.

 

[Merlyn3D]

Originally posted by: FlyLice
Not worth $700. Eat it.

Ha....you must make quite a bit of dough, cuz $700 is a lot of money to "eat". You should definitely pursue this. I personally don't have any experience with small claims, but I would imagine that if you go, you'll need as much proof as possible, so be prepared.

 

[NutBucket]

Who have you talked to at Acura about this above the dealer?

 

[richardycc]

the towing company is probably just a contractor, you should sue them.

 

[Hammer]

i don't think you can sue a corporation in another state in small claims court.

 

[DainBramaged]

My guess is that it was the towing company. Make yourself as much of a thorn in their side as you can and things might change.

 

[CRXican]

It's likely the towing company won't be liable and I doubt you can take Acura to small claims. When I get my car towed I take off the front bumper (it was having issues for a while, got towed a couple times). My car is also lowered and has been towed with the bumper on without issue now that I think about it.

 

[MrChad]

Have you tried the Better Business Bureau?

 

[MoobyTheGoldenCalf]

I can't just sue the dealer or the tow company becuase I can't prove either of them did it. All I know is SOMEBODY did it. But since they were both acting as agents/representatives of the Acura Corporation I figure they're the only ones I have a claim against.

BTW - It's $40 to file a small claims case. I figure it's worth it at a shot at $700. I don't know if I can do it against a company in another state though.

 

[CRXican]

Oh and which Acura bumper costs $700? Aftermarket bumpers don't even cost that much.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: MoobyTheGoldenCalf
I can't just sue the dealer or the tow company becuase I can't prove either of them did it. All I know is SOMEBODY did it. But since they were both acting as agents/representatives of the Acura Corporation I figure they're the only ones I have a claim against.

BTW - It's $40 to file a small claims case. I figure it's worth it at a shot at $700. I don't know if I can do it against a company in another state though.

Have you contacted corporate?

 

[MoobyTheGoldenCalf]

Originally posted by: CRXican
Oh and which Acura bumper costs $700? Aftermarket bumpers don't even cost that much.

2004 TL. Got an estimate sitting right in front of me.

Yeah, I called corporate. They're "investigating" it. I'm not holdling my breath.....

 

[CRXican]

Is it just the bumper cover?

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: MoobyTheGoldenCalf

Originally posted by: CRXican
Oh and which Acura bumper costs $700? Aftermarket bumpers don't even cost that much.

2004 TL. Got an estimate sitting right in front of me.

Yeah, I called corporate. They're "investigating" it. I'm not holdling my breath.....

Start sending letters. Letters > Phone

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Hammer
i don't think you can sue a corporation in another state in small claims court.

Yes, you can. Just file like you would against an individual in your county small claims court.


court judgement > letters :evil:

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: CRXican
Oh and which Acura bumper costs $700? Aftermarket bumpers don't even cost that much.

Bumper + paint does.

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: TerryMathews

Originally posted by: CRXican
Oh and which Acura bumper costs $700? Aftermarket bumpers don't even cost that much.

Bumper + paint does.

a factory bumper would come painted

 

[Nocturnal]

Oh yeah bumper + paint can cost over a grand.

 

[dawks]

there was some show on tv a year or so ago where they tested a few top selling SUV's and their bumpers... They drove them into a concrete poll at 6-7MPH.. typical damage was $1,200-4,500..

 

[CRXican]

Originally posted by: dawks
there was some show on tv a year or so ago where they tested a few top selling SUV's and their bumpers... They drove them into a concrete poll at 6-7MPH.. typical damage was $1,200-4,500..

lol, he didn't drive into a wall

but anyway, we've all gone off topic

have you called your insurance company, they might cover it, comprehensive damage since you weren't driving when it happened

more off topic, Why the crap is a 2004 TL needing roadside assistance and a trip to the dealer?

 

[Kelemvor]

Better Business Bureau, State consumer protection/attorney general's office. And even call a car insurance place to get their take on it. If you call your own, be sure to talk in hypothetical sense.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Have you tried the Better Business Bureau?

WTF is the BBB going to do? Damn you people think they are gods or something. They have NO POWER to do sh*t!

 

[rahvin]

Your best bet is to sue them jointly but I don't think you can do that in small claims.

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Better Business Bureau, State consumer protection/attorney general's office. And even call a car insurance place to get their take on it. If you call your own, be sure to talk in hypothetical sense.

Yeah....why don't you get your insurance involved on it? They can be the ones that sue Acura instead....