ArentFox Schiff Helps Ed Napleton Automotive Group Secure Win Over Hyundai

After a two-week trial, a federal jury in West Palm Beach, Florida returned verdicts in favor of Napleton’s West Palm Beach Hyundai dealership and its managers and employees.

The jury’s verdict included a finding that Hyundai had “unclean hands” by committing an unconscionable act or engaging in reprehensible conduct.

The AFS Automotive team representing the defendants was led by Russell McRory and includes Michael McMahan, Taniel Anderson, Charles Gallaer, Daisy Sexton, Shayshari Potter, Brian Farkas, Morgan Pankow, and Margaret Salvatore. Russ is a nationally recognized litigator who has won several landmark cases against manufacturers on behalf of automobile dealers.

The case goes back to November 2020 when Hyundai Motor America sued Napleton’s West Palm Hyundai dealership and several managers and employees in federal court, alleging that they fraudulently collected warranty payments for unnecessary engine repairs. The complaint was filed in US District Court in West Palm Beach, Fla. Now, a jury has spoken and the Federal Court has entered judgment: “Final Judgment is hereby entered in favor of Defendants EFN West Palm Motor Sales, LLC, Gene Khaytin, Ernesto Revuelta, Edward W. Napleton, Geovanny Pelayo, and Jorge Ruiz, and against Plaintiff Hyundai Motor America Corporation. Plaintiff Hyundai Motor America Corporation shall take nothing from Defendants…”

Today, the Napleton Family operates more than 74 franchises in seven states. Taking pride in helping each community they live and work in, the Napleton Family name has become synonymous with excellence and teamwork. What started as a small family-owned business has blossomed into one of the most forward-thinking dealership groups in the country. Four of Ed’s five children have proudly joined him in pursuing the family business and have a hand in the company’s day-to-day operations.

Our Automotive Practice Group at AFS is focused exclusively on industry challenges: from privacy and cybersecurity to taxation, from HSR filings to licensing, from FTC enforcement actions to franchise litigation, and from class actions to criminal accusations. Combining industry experience with our firm’s deep legal bench gives us a formidable market presence.

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