Billionaire Heir Files Lawsuit Against Car Dealership Over Jeep and Volkswagen Vehicles
Timothy Mellon, a descendant of a banking dynasty, has filed a lawsuit against a Subaru dealer in Connecticut over disputes concerning three vehicles. In his claims, he accuses the dealership of poor-quality repairs, documentation issues, and safety violations.
Main Claims of the Billionaire
Context of Mellon’s Financial Capabilities
Timothy Mellon is known for significant political donations. According to media reports, he donated millions of dollars in support of the Trump administration, including $130 million during a government shutdown. However, he is now litigating over a relatively small amount related to vehicles.
In the same month he made a $50 million donation in support of Trump, he filed a lawsuit against a family-owned car dealership in Connecticut, complaining about an unsuccessful engine replacement costing $7,300 for a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Details of the Dispute with the Car Dealership
Regarding the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the dealership proposed replacing the original engine with an assembly from a Dodge, which led to serious safety problems. Furthermore, Mellon purchased a Volkswagen Rabbit without receiving the proper ownership documents, preventing him from registering the vehicle in Wyoming. The dealership, in turn, issued an invoice for the storage of this vehicle, claiming that the client simply abandoned it.
Mellon’s Previous Lawsuits
This is not Mellon’s first lawsuit. In 2015, he unsuccessfully sued an organization associated with Amelia Earhart’s expedition, losing the case both at the first instance and on appeal. The current vehicle case already has a schedule: a preliminary hearing is set for November 6, and jury selection is scheduled for December 9 in New London.
The Reynolds’ Subaru dealership denies all accusations, asserting that it acted within the standards of service. The case is attracting attention due to the contrast between Mellon’s financial capabilities and the subject of the dispute – a modest sum compared to his donations. This also highlights the complexity of relationships between clients and car dealerships, especially when it comes to repairing classic cars, where finding original parts often becomes a challenge.