Google Announces Plans for Driverless Car

On May 29, 2014, Google announced its plans to build, test, and eventually release 100 prototype driverless cars onto city streets-- all by this time next year.

The prototype vehicles are reportedly expected to be two seater, subcompact cars.  The vehicles will reportedly have no steering wheel, gas pedal, or brake pedal.  Instead, the vehicles will use sensors and computing power to move about, with the route set by typing a destination into a map or using voice commands.  The vehicles will also reportedly have special limitations, such as a 25 mph top speed, and will be electricity powered with a maximum 100 mile driving distance before recharge.  The vehicles will not be for sale, but instead provided to select operators for testing.  They will reportedly be built in the Detroit area, but Google has not released the identification of the builders or the cost of the prototypes.

While Google has tested thousands of Lexus SUVs and Toyota Priuses outfitted with sensors and cameras to make them "driverless", these new prototypes will go a step further, taking the "safety driver" out of the equation.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles is reportedly required to publish regulations allowing the public use of truly driverless cars like the Google car by summer 2015.  These new regulations are apparently what will allow for Google's prototypes to be released onto city streets.

While summer 2015 is the goal to release the 100 prototype vehicles onto city streets, according to Chris Urmson, the leader of Google's self-driving car team, public release of the 100 fleet prototypes "won't happen until we're confident in the safety." 
   

Beth Wells

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 10 Years Running

Evenflo Recalls Certain Convertible Car Seats & Harness Booster Seats

Evenflo Company, Inc. is recalling the following convertible and harnessed child restraints:

Momentum 65 (LX and DLX), Chase (LX, DLX, and Select), Maestro (Performance), Symphony (65, LX, 65 E3, and DLX), Snugli All-In-One, Snugli Booster, Titan 65, SureRide DLX, and Secure Kid (LX, DLX, 100, 300, and 400).  The affected car seats have model number prefixes of 306, 308, 310, 329, 345, 346, 371, and 385.

According to Evenflo, the affected car seats have buckles that may become stuck in a latched condition so that they cannot be opened by depressing the buckle’s release button.  As such, it may be difficult to remove the child from the restraint, which could increase the risk of injury in instances where a quick exit from the vehicle is required.

To see the four (4) documents associated with this recall, click here and scroll down to the accessible PDF files.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration ("NHTSA"), Evenflo will notify registered car seat owners in April 2014, and will provide replacement buckles along with installation instructions.  Owners may contact Evenflo at 1-800-490-7591 or online at www.buckle.evenflo.com.

Do you have a car seat that you think may be included in this recall?  If so, contact Evenflo with your car seat model number and date of manufacture to confirm that your child’s car seat is included in this recall. 

Beth Wells

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 10 Years Running

Car Dealer Sues Customer for Posting Video of Repair on YouTube

Jim Butler Chevrolet, a Fenton, Missouri car dealer, has sued one of its customers, Dwayne Cooney, over a video of Mr. Cooney's car repair which Mr. Cooney posted on YouTube.

Mr. Cooney reportedly took his vehicle to Jim Butler Chevrolet on January 31, 2014 for repair of a key fob, an inoperative air pressure monitor, and an illuminated airbag light. Unbeknownst to anyone at Jim Butler Chevrolet, Mr. Cooney had a dash camera which captured the repair of his vehicle on video.  However, since the video is reportedly on a time loop, the video only captured repairs which occurred on Tuesday, February 4, 2014.

Mr. Cooney was billed 4.5 hours of labor for the repair.  However, Mr. Cooney claims that the repair only took 1 1/2 hours by his camera's clock.  Jim Butler Chevrolet, on the other hand, reportedly claims that the repair took more than 5 hours and that 3.2 hours of work was done on the previous day, Monday, February 3, 2014.  Since there is apparently no video for Monday, February 3, 2014, this is obviously an issue in hot dispute.

Mr. Cooney posted an edited, narrated version of the February 4, 2014 video on YouTube as "Gateway Dash Cam".  You can access Mr. Cooney's video here.  In response, Jim Butler Chevrolet posted its own video on YouTube as "Official Gateway Dash Cam".  You can access Jim Butler Chevrolet's video here.

Brad Sowers, principal at Jim Butler Chevrolet, reportedly claims that he attempted to contact Mr. Cooney when he learned of the video.  However, according to Mr. Sowers, Mr. Cooney wanted to take his complaint to General Motors first.  So, Jim Butler Chevrolet filed suit and sought a restraining order requiring Mr. Cooney to take the video down.  Mr. Cooney was served on February 21, 2014 with the Complaint, and summoned to a hearing on the following Monday.  

Mr. Cooney showed up at the hearing without an attorney and the dealership's request for a temporary restraining order was granted.  Mr. Cooney's homeowners insurance company hired an attorney to represent him and eight days later, the same Judge reversed her decision and removed the temporary restraining order, allowing Mr. Cooney to re-post the video on YouTube.    

So what constitutes free speech under the First Amendment when it comes to videos posted on YouTube?  And where do we draw the line between "chilling" free speech, and protecting a business from unsubstantiated statements by a disgruntled consumer?  The answers are not clear, but with the rising importance of online reviews to businesses like car dealers, and the nationwide accessibility of videos on YouTube, these issues are very likely to be a hot issue in Courts throughout the country in the near future.  So, if you are thinking of posting a video like this on YouTube that could potentially harm a business, and you plan to narrate and edit it, be careful!

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

www.CarSalesFraud.com

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

      

Jayco, Inc. Recalls Certain 2014 Jay Flight Swift Travel Trailers

Jayco, Inc. has recalled all model year 2014 Jay Flight Swift travel trailers manufactured between January 10, 2014 and January 13, 2014 which were equipped with the Baja option.

According to Jayco, Inc., the Federal Certification and Tire Labels list the incorrect tire size as ST205/75R14C instead of LT235/75R15C.  As such, the vehicles do not conform to the Federal Motor vehicle Safety Standard number 120, “Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars”.  And, if the consumer replaces the tire with the incorrect tire listed on the label, it may cause uneven wear on the tire and towing instability could increase the risk of a crash.

To see the two (5) documents associated with this recall, click here and scroll down to the accessible PDF files.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration ("NHTSA"), Jayco, Inc. will notify vehicle owners directly, and its authorized dealers will replace the incorrect Federal Certification and Tire Label with new labels with the correct tire information as LT235/75R15C.  The recall will begin March 24, 2014 and owners may also contact Jayco, Inc. direct at 1-800-283-8267.  Owners may also contact NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.safecar.gov.   

Do you have a 2014 Jay Flight Swift that’s been in the shop with tire or alignment issues but never fixed?  If the travel trailer was purchased or repaired in Ohio or Kentucky, then you can call Burdge Law Office on our Toll Free Hotline, 1.888.331.6422, to see if we can help you out of your "lemon" vehicle.

Beth Wells

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 10 Years Running

Presidential State Cars From Past to Present

William Howard Taft's
Presidential  Limousine

Presidential state cars have evolved extensively since 1899.

In November of 1899, William McKinley was the first president to ride in an automobile.  His successor, Teddy Roosevelt, was the first to commission a government owned presidential automobile-- a white, convertible Stanley Steamer.  Roosevelt's successor, William Howard Taft, also opted for a white, convertible Stanley Steamer, and converted the White House stables into a garage.  Woodrow Wilson opted for a Pierce-Arrow Limousine.  And his successor, Warren Harding, was the first president to ride to and from his inauguration in an automobile--a

Woodrow Wilson's
Presidential Limousine

Packard Twin Six.  Franklin D. Roosevelt's choice for a presidential automobile was 1939 Lincoln V12 nick named the "Sunshine Special", and was the first car specifically built for presidential use.

The day after Pear Harbor, on December 8, 1941, the "Sunshine Special" temporarily replaced by Al Capone's 1928 Cadillac 341A Town Sedan while the "Sunshine Special" was modified to provide more protection for the President.  Al Capone's Cadillac was heavily armored and had been confiscated by the Treasury Department following Capone's arrest.  The modified Sunshine Special had armor plating for doors, bullet-proof tires, inch thick windows, and storage compartments for machine guns.

FDR's "Sunshine Special"

Since the late 1930s, the Federal government has specifically commissioned vehicles for presidential use, specifying special features for convenience, communications, and defense.

Today, President Obama's 7.5 ton limousine, which is in reality more of a tank, has been named "The Beast" by secret service agents.  From the outside, the vehicle is built to look like a 2008 Cadillac DTS.  But on the inside, the vehicle is a hybrid of Cadillac components combined with the guts of a Chevrolet Kodiak commercial truck.  The vehicle's armor includes 8 inch plates and 5 inch thick multi-layered

Obama's "Beast"

glass windows, which combine to make the vehicle's doors as heavy as those of a 757 jet.  The vehicle is sealed against biochemical attacks and can stop an IED explosion.  Although details of the presidential limousine are classified for security reasons, reports claim that the vehicle has a night vision system, communication gear, and a blood bank.  The vehicle is only driven by specially trained secret service agents.

And, a new presidential limousine has reportedly been commissioned, which promises to be even sturdier that "The Beast".    

Want to learn more about presidential state cars?  Click here for a link to a blog of the "Top Ten" all time presidential state cars.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 10 Years Running

Car Dealer Sentenced and Ordered to Pay Restitution for Bank Fraud

In the market for a used car?  Do your research first so you know who you are dealing with!

  

In July 2013, Daniel Young, the owner and operator of Auto Plaza in Billings, Montana, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Sam Haddon to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay $490,153 in restitution to First Interstate Bank for bank fraud.

Mr. Young plead guilty to bank fraud in February of last year, reportedly admitting that he defrauded First Interstate Bank in a scheme in which he failed to repay liens on the vehicles that he sold.

According to news reports, Mr. Young owned and operated Auto Plaza Inc. at 1617 First Avenue N., Billings, Montana.  Auto Plaza, Inc. reportedly sold used motor vehicles, along with new and used recreational vehicles, boats, ATVs, and motorcycles with the help of loans from First Interstate Bank and Dealer Services Corp.  When the dealership sold a vehicle or boat, proceeds were supposed to be used to pay off the loan from the bank that had provided the financing for the dealership's inventory.  The bank would then pay off any liens and allow clear title to be passed to the consumer buyer.  However, according to news reports, Mr. Young instead used the sales proceeds to pay other bills and vendors, make payroll, and pay off liens on unrelated sales. 

The Defense Attorney, Brian Kohn, asked for sentencing of 1 year and 1 day, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Fehr recommended a 13 month sentence.  Judge Haddon decided to hand down the maximum sentence to the car dealer of 18 months.

So, where do you start your research?  Your first step should be to consult online reviews of local car dealerships before purchasing a car.  One way to do this is to Google the dealership and see if there are any Google+ reviews.  But, where you see negative reviews, be weary of similarly worded positive reviews that crop up around the same time-- there is nothing stopping a car dealership from posting "bogus" positive reviews in response to negative ones.

Another easy way to research a local car dealer is to go online to the Common Pleas Court for the County in which the dealer is located.  Not all, but many, have online dockets and allow you to search for cases by party name.  While there are always two sides to every story, lawsuits against a car dealership can be a serious red flag. 

You may also want to turn to your friends on Facebook.  Find out if any of them have purchased a vehicle at a particular dealership and what their experience was like.  These Facebook "reviews" can be even more reliable, when you know the person that they are coming from.


Finally, simply type the name of the dealership into Google or Bing and see what else comes up.  However, keep in mind that a large car dealer is more likely to have an online reputation management company "cleaning up" their online reputation than a small car lot.  So, certainly keep that into perspective.

Good luck, and happy car shopping!

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 10 Years Running

 

Chrysler Recalls Vehicles for Improper Brake Pedal Operation

Chrysler Group LLC has recalled over 18,690 model year 2012-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured October 1, 2011 through October 1, 2012

According to Chrysler Group LLC, under certain breaking events, the Ready Alert Braking System (RAB) may result in the driver experiencing a hard brake pedal feel.  Chrysler admits that this may cause the driver not to push the brake pedal as intended, lengthening the distance needed to stop and increasing the risk of a crash.  

To see the two (4) documents associated with this recall, click here and scroll down to the accessible PDF files.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration ("NHTSA"), Chrysler Group LLC will notify vehicle owners directly, and its authorized dealers will update the ABS module software free of charge.  Owners may also contact Chrysler Group LLC direct at 1-800-853-1403.  

Do you have a 2012-2013 Dodge Durango or Jeep Grand Cherokee that experienced a brake problem, but is still not fixed?  If the vehicle was purchased or repaired in Ohio or Kentucky, then you can call Burdge Law Office on our Toll Free Hotline, 1.888.331.6422, to see if we can help you out of your "lemon" vehicle.

Beth Wells

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 10 Years Running