AG Zoeller Sues Former Evansville Car Dealer For Failing To Deliver Car Titles To Hoosiers

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s Office filed a lawsuit against a former Evansville auto dealer who closed its doors without handing over car titles to dozens of Hoosiers who purchased vehicles from the company.

Under current Indiana law, an Indiana motor vehicle dealer must deliver a valid title to a purchasing customer within 31 days from the date of sale. Without a title, a vehicle owner cannot obtain a state vehicle registration in order to operate the vehicle legally.

In a lawsuit filed in Vanderburgh County court, the Attorney General alleges Unlimited Automotive Wholesalers LLC did not provide car titles to 37 total customers who had purchased vehicles from the dealer before it went out of business earlier this year. The Indiana Secretary of State’s Office revoked the company’s auto dealer license in April.

“The 37 people who bought cars from this dealer but didn’t receive a title were in a frustrating legal limbo where they had paid thousands of dollars for a vehicle they couldn’t prove they owned,” Zoeller said. “Our office worked with the Secretary of State’s Office to help impacted customers obtain temporary titles while the lawsuit is pending. These types of cases are not uncommon, and I urge Hoosiers who have been similarly harmed to contact my office.”

The Indiana Secretary of State’s Office was able to provide Unlimited Automotive Wholesalers customers with temporary license plates through their Victim Assistance Program. These plates allow these consumers to have legal plates for their vehicles while the AG’s lawsuit is pending. Any consumer who needs help getting a temporary plate should contact the office at 317-234-7190.

“I want to thank the consumers who reported suspicious activity,” Secretary of State Connie Lawson said. “While most auto dealers are reputable, one bad actor can tarnish the industry. Consumer complaints allow us to focus our time and resources on potential bad actors, protecting Hoosiers from falling prey to scams and gimmicks.”

In its lawsuit against Unlimited Automotive Wholesalers, the Attorney General’s Office seeks to obtain permanent car titles for the impacted customers in addition to recovering investigative costs and pursuing civil penalties for alleged violations of Indiana’s consumer protection laws.

Any former customers of Unlimited Automotive Wholesalers who experienced issues and have not contacted the AG’s Office can do so by calling 800-382-5516 or by filing a complaint online at www.IndianaConsumer.com.

The Attorney General’s Office receives more auto sales complaints each year than any other retail category, with 1,340 complaints filed in 2015 and nearly 900 complaints filed in 2016 thus far.

Zoeller’s office created the Auto Buyer’s Bill of Rights to educate consumers and provide a helpful guide for those making a vehicle purchase, whether new or used. More tips on avoiding fraud when purchasing a car can be found here.

To file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General’s Office, visit www.IndianaConsumer.com or call 800-382-5516. To file a complaint about an auto dealer with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, visit here.

Zoeller thanked Deputy Attorneys General Martha Bowen and Mark Snodgrass for their work on this case.

Deadlines Loom For Teaching Scholarships Available To Minority Hoosiers  

Minority students who plan to teach in Indiana K-12 schools after graduating from high school may be eligible for up to $4,000 in financial aid.

Two scholarships—the William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship and the Earline S. Rogers Student Teaching Stipend for Minorities—offer financial aid for minority students who meet academic requirements and commit to teaching at least three years after earning a college degree.

Deadlines are approaching for both scholarships. Applications for the William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship will be accepted through Friday, September 4, 2016. For the Earline S. Rogers Student Teaching Stipend for Minorities, applications are accepted according to when students plan to student teach.

For those who student teach this fall, applications are due by Tuesday, October 4, 2016. Students who plan to student teach in spring 2017 should apply by Tuesday, January 31, 2017. Full requirements and applications are available on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education website at www.in.gov/che/4498.htm.

Originally called the Minority Teacher’s Scholarship and the Student Teaching Stipend for Minorities, both scholarships were renamed during the 2016 legislative session to honor two Indiana state legislators for their commitment to ensuring equity in education and closing achievement gaps: William A. Crawford, a long-standing state representative from Indianapolis who passed away in 2015; and Earline S. Rogers from Gary, who will retire from her state Senate seat this year.

The William A. Crawford Minority Teacher Scholarship was created in 1987 to encourage minority students (defined as black and Hispanic individuals) to pursue careers in education. Qualifying students can receive as much as $4,000 for tuition and fees. Since its creation, more than 3,000 students have utilized the funds.

In 2013, the Earline S. Rogers Student Teaching Stipend for Minorities was created to provide additional financial aid for minority student teachers, who often spend hundreds of hours student teaching in the K-12 classroom before earning their degrees. Qualifying students may receive up to $4,000 for supplemental financial support. About 100 students have utilized these stipends.

For more information or to apply online, please visit www.in.gov/che/4498.htm.

Operation Pull Over Blitz #87
“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”

Vanderburgh County – Indiana State Police will be conducting a sobriety checkpoint this upcoming weekend. The exact location, date and time will not be released. Motorists that are not impaired can expect only short delays of 2-3 minutes while passing through the checkpoint.

Troopers encourage all motorists to call 911 or the closest Indiana State Police Post when they observe another motorist that may be impaired. Be prepared to give a description of the vehicle, location and direction of travel.

The Indiana State Police are committed to traffic safety and will continue to conduct saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints to apprehend impaired drivers and to deter others from drinking and driving.