Antoinette Marconi and Roy Marconi v. Brandywine Chrysler Jeep, Inc.

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS FOR THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
ANTIONETTE MARCONI, and )
ROY MARCONI, )
)
Plaintiffs, )
)
v. ) C.A. No. CPU4-13-003182
)
BRANDYWINE CHRYSLER JEEP, )
INC., )
CHRYSLER GROUP, LLC, and JIFFY )
LUBE SERVICE CENTER # 312, )
)
Defendants. )
Submitted: April 1, 2015
Decided: June 30, 2015
Matthew M. Bartkowski, Esquire Matthew E. O’Byrne, Esquire
Heather Long, Esquire Casarino, Christman & Shalk
Kimmel Carter Roman & Peltz, P.A. 405 N. King Street, Ste 300
Plaza 273 P.O. Box 1276
P.O. Box 8149 Wilmington, DE 19899
Newark, DE 19714 Attorney for Defendant Jiffy Lube
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
Nichole T. Whetham Warner, Esquire
Marshall, Dennehey, Warner,
Colemen & Goggin
1220 Market Street, 5th Floor
P.O. Box 8888
Wilmington, DE 19899
Attorney for Chrysler Defendants
DECISION ON CO-DEFENDANT’S BRANDYWINE CHRYSLER JEEP, INC.
AND CHRYSLER GROUP LLC’S MOTION FOR REARGUMENT
Before the Court is Defendants Brandywine Chrysler Jeep, Inc. and Chrysler Group,
LLC’s (collectively, “the Chrysler Defendants”) motion for reargument. This action arises
from the Chrysler Defendants’ sale of a 2008 Chrysler Pacifica (“Pacifica”) to Plaintiffs
Antoinette and Roy Marconi (“Plaintiffs”), and Defendant Jiffy Lube Service Center No.
312’s (“Jiffy Lube”) subsequent service of such vehicle. The Chrysler Defendants seek
reargument of the Court’s November 7, 2014 decision which denied their motion for
summary judgment concluding that a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding the type
of warranty which covers the vehicle. That is, whether it was a “repair and replace” or a
“future performance” warranty.1 The Court also concluded that a genuine issue exists
regarding the warranty’s accrual date, which becomes important to the class-of-warranty
issue.2 This is the Court’s decision on the Chrysler Defendants’ motion.
The facts of this case are not largely in dispute. On June 19, 2009, Plaintiffs
purchased the Pacifica vehicle from Defendant Brandywine Chrysler Jeep, Inc.
(“Brandywine Chrysler”), which was manufactured by Defendant Chrysler Group, LLC
(“Chrysler Group, LLC). On April 18, 2012, Plaintiffs had the Pacifica serviced at Jiffy Lube.
The service by Jiffy Lube included engine oil change and filter. On December 15, 2012,
Plaintiffs brought the vehicle to Brandywine Chrysler stating that the “check engine” light
was on; that the engine stalled while driving, and consequently it would not start. Upon
inspection, Brandywine Chrysler observed damage to the crank-shaft and oil starvation in
the engine. Plaintiffs declined to have the work performed because Chrysler Defendants’
1
See Memorandum Opinion and Order, at *9 (Nov. 7, 2014).
2
Pursuant to 6 Del. C. § 2-725(2), if the warranty is one for “repair and replacement” of defective parts, the statute
of limitations accrues as of September 24, 2007. Conversely, if found to be a “future performance warranty,” the
accrual date would be the date of discovery of the alleged breach, December 15, 2012.
2
refused to cover the costs of the engine repair. Shortly thereafter, Plaintiffs brought this
breach of contract action.
On March 22, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a complaint in the Justice of the Peace Court. On
September 24, 2013, the Justice of the Peace Court dismissed the case, holding that
Plaintiff’s claims were barred by the statute of limitations, as set forth in 6 Del. C. § 2-725 as
to the Chrysler Defendants. The court concluded that Plaintiffs’ claims were barred because
the four-year statute of limitations commenced to run on September 24, 2007, the date the
vehicle was delivered to the dealer. (See, Civil Action JP13-13-003930)
On October 9, 2013, Plaintiffs filed an Appeal to this Court, alleging that the Chrysler
Defendants and Jiffy Lube (“Jiffy Lube,” collectively “the Defendants) were negligent in
servicing and inspecting the vehicle. Plaintiffs also allege that the Chrysler Defendants
breached express and implied warranties for the vehicle.
On December 16, 2013, Chrysler Defendants filed a motion to dismiss, which was
heard on September 19, 2014. The Court took the matter under advisement, and on
November 7, 2014, issued an opinion denying Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment.
In denying the Motion, the Court cited three bases: (1) Civil Rule 72.3 had been satisfied; (2)
the mirror image rule codified in Civil Rule 72.3(f) had not been violated; and (3) material
issue of fact exist with regard to the Statute of Limitations because the type of warranty
which covered the vehicle is determinative of when the statute of limitations began to run.
On November 18, 2014, the Chrysler Defendants filed the instant motion for
reargument, moving the Court to reconsider its conclusion that an issue of material fact
exists as to the type of warranty which covered Plaintiff’s vehicle. On March 31, 2013,
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Plaintiffs submitted a letter to the Court indicating that they stand on the record before the
Court. On April 1, 2013, Jiffy Lube submitted a letter stating that it takes no position on the
motion for reargument.
PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
The Chrysler Defendants contend that the warranty covering Plaintiffs’ vehicle is a
three-year/36,000-mile “repair and replace” warranty, rather than a “future performance”
warranty. In response to the Court’s denial of its first motion for summary judgment, the
Chrysler Defendants now submits the warranty (“basic limited warranty”) which they allege
covers Plaintiff’s Pacifica.3 The Chrysler Defendants further argue that the only promise
made in either warranty is that the Pacifica would be repaired if it failed, and therefore it is
impossible to find that either of the warranties guarantees future performance. Accordingly,
the Chrysler Defendants reason that the date of vehicle delivery to the dealer, rather than the
date of discovery of the alleged breach, controls the claim.
Because no supplemental argument was presented, the Court treated Plaintiff’s
position as continuing that there are genuine issues of material fact concerning (1) the class
of warranty which covers the Pacifica, and (2) the date of the Pacifica’s delivery to Plaintiffs,
controls when the statute runs.4 Additionally, Plaintiffs argue that the warranty controlling
these proceedings is Chrysler’s Lifetime Powertrain Warranty, which is a “future
performance” warranty that guarantees the powertrain’s performance for the life of the
3
See Motion for Reargument, Exhibit C. Plaintiff did not present any tangible evidence to the Court which would
refute the Chrysler Defendants’ claim.
4
See Plaintiffs’ Response to Motion to Dismiss, Exhibit M. Plaintiffs contend the date of accrual is unclear due to
differing shipping dates listed in the Chrysler Defendants’ Vehicle Information Detail Report.
4
vehicle. To support this position, Plaintiffs presented a copy from Chrysler’s website – titled
“New Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty Customers Q&A” – which provides the terms
of the lifetime warranty. 5
Plaintiffs contend that the repair and replace warranty is for a stated period of time.
However, the guarantee warranty is for an endless duration and is therefore distinguishable.
Therefore, in the event the Court finds that the warranty which covers the vehicle is a
lifetime warranty, the warranty is not limited to the four-year statute of limitations which
applies to repair and replace warranty. They further argue that the relevant date of delivery
involving cars, is the date of delivery by the manufacturer to the dealer. However, in the
event that the tender of delivery by the manufacturer to the dealer is unknown, the date to
the consumer is taken as a stand-in date for the tender of delivery. They go on to allege that
since the document in question indicates the shipping date from the manufacturer to the
dealer as September 24, 2007, also includes June 19, 2009 as the date sold to the dealer, there
is uncertainty as to the relevant statute of limitation date. Therefore, Plaintiffs reason that
because the date of delivery is unclear, and thus unknown, it must as a result thereof, be
inferred that the cause of action accrued when the vehicle was delivered to the consumer,
and as such, their claim is not time barred.
ANALYSIS
A motion for re-argument is limited to “reconsideration by the Court of its findings
of fact, conclusions of law, or judgment.”6 “A motion for re-argument will be granted only if
5
See http://www.chrysler.com/en/lifetime_powertrain_waranty/faq.html, attached as Plaintiffs’ Response to Motion
to Dismiss, Exhibit J.
6
Hessler, Inc. v. Farrell, 260 A.2d 701, 702 (Del. 1969).
5
‘the Court has overlooked a controlling precedent or legal principles, or the Court has
misapprehended the law or facts such as would have changed the outcome of the underlying
decision.’”7 “A party seeking to have the court reconsider [an] earlier ruling must
demonstrate newly discovered evidence, a change in the law or manifest injustice.”8 “[T]he
Court will not entertain new arguments by the parties raised for the first time in a motion for
re-argument.”9 The determination in these matters turns on the relevant application of the
alleged warranties.
A. THE WARRANTIES
As stated supra, the Chrysler Defendants maintain that a repair-and-replace warranty,
rather than a “future performance” warranty, exists on the Pacifica. In discussing the
difference between the two classes of warranties, the Delaware Superior Court in Jakotowicz
held:
A “future performance” warranty is different from a “repair or
replace” warranty in that a future performance warranty
expressly provides some form of guarantee that the product will
perform in the future as promised. In contrast, a repair or
replacement warranty does not warrant how the goods will
perform in the future. Rather, a repair or replace warranty
simply provides that if a product fails or becomes defective, the
seller will replace or repair within a stated period.10
The Court further distinguished the characteristics between the two types of
warranties:
7
State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Middleby Corp., 2011 WL 2462661, at *2 (Del. Super. June 15, 2011). (quoting
Kennedy v. Invacare Corp., 2006 WL 488590, at *1 (Del. Super. Jan. 31, 2006)).
8
Parisan v. Cohan, 2012 WL 1066506, at *1 (Del. Com. Pl. Mar. 29, 2012).
9
Wilmington Trust Co. v. Nix, 2002 WL 356371, at *1 (Del. Super. Feb. 21, 2002).
10
Jakotowicz v. Hyundai Motor Am., 2005 Del. Super. LEXIS 283, at *8 (Del. Super., Aug. 17, 2005).
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A warranty cannot be both a “repair and replace” and a “future
performance” warranty…A warranty extending to future
performance is a very narrow exception to the limitations
period.”11 However, “the language of the warranty is the
controlling factor in determining if the warranty is a “future
performance” warranty or not.”12
The language of the document provided as part of the sale in these proceedings by
Chrysler, and which was a part of the sales agreement is a repair and replace warranty. It
provides coverage for repairs and replacements for up to three years/36,000 miles and limits
Plaintiffs’ remedy to repair or replacement of the defective parts.13 It provides as follows:
The basic limited warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor
needed to repair any item on your vehicle … that is
defective in material, workmanship, or factory preparation.
There is no list of covered parts, since the only exceptions [to
coverage under this warranty] are tires and Koss headphones.14
The second warranty which plaintiff relies on is the “New Chrysler Lifetime
Powertrain Warranty which is found at Chrysler.com website. This document is provided in a
Q & A format and provides in relevant part s follows:
“Q2: What does the new powertrain limited warranty include?
A2: The Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty covers the cost
of all parts and labor needed to repair covered powertrain
components – engine, transmission and drive system – on
most new Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles.”15
“Q4: Are there specific provisions to the new warranty?
A4: In order to maintain the Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain
Warranty, you must have a Powertrain inspection performed by
an authorized Chrysler Jeep, Dodge dealer once every 5 years. . .
11
Id. at *9.
12
Id. at *12.
13
Id. at *8.
14
Motion for Reargument, Exhibit C, § 2.1 B (emphasis added).
15
Plaintiffs’ Response to Motion to Dismiss, Exhibit J.
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It is your responsibility to perform preventative maintenance on
your vehicle
Q5: When does the new warranty coverage take effect?
A4: The Chrysler Lifetime Powertrain Warranty begins at the
date of the Basic Limited Warranty.
Q15: What does Lifetime mean?
A15: Lifetime means lifetime.
The language of this publication provides that if the powertrain becomes defective,
Chrysler will cover costs to repair the defect. 16
B. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
Regarding the repair and replace warranty, the dates are on the vehicle information
detail report. There are several entries; however, the shipping date is clearly set forth as
September 24, 2007, and under 6 Del. C. § 2-725, claims by a vehicle owner against a vehicle
manufacturer alleging violations under the warranty accrue on the date the delivery was
tendered by the manufacturer to the dealership.17 As stated by the Court in Murray, the
consumer delivery date may be used as a stand-in date of delivery only in the absence of
more specific information.
Here, the record is clear that the delivery date is September 27, 2007. The action was
commenced on March 22, 2013, which is beyond the four (4) year statute of limitation
period in 6 Del. C. § 2-725. Therefore, any claim based on the replace and repair warranty is
time barred.
16
See Jakotowicz, 2005 Del. Super. LEXIS 283, at *13 (Del. Super. Aug. 17, 2005) (“Under 10 Del. C. § 2-725(2), a
cause of action accrues when the breach occurs and a breach of warranty occurs when tender of delivery is
made…in cases involving cars, the date of delivery by the manufacturer to the dealer is the accrual date for a cause
of action against the manufacturer.”)
17
Murray v. American Suzuki Motor Corp., 2010 WL 323506 (Del. Super. (J. Ableman)
8
However, while I conclude the Lifetime Warranty is a future performance warranty,
the conditions do require that the owner perform preventive maintenance, which may affect
the validity of the warranty. Chrysler’s three-year/36,000-mile warranty requires owners of
2008 Chrysler Pacifica perform engine oil and filter changes every six-months/6,000-miles.
There is no documentation the services were performed; nor is there proof that the service
provider signed the maintenance log included with the warranty.18 Failure to do so voids the
basic limited warranty.19 Plaintiff’s record of service with Jiffy Lube shows that the car was
taken in for service once a year, and at times more than 9,000 miles between service.20
As previously mentioned, the warranty start date for Plaintiffs’ vehicle is September
24, 2007, the date of delivery to the dealer. This means that the no-charge inspection would
have been required to take place between July 24, 2012 and September 24, 2012. According
to the record before the Court, apart from selling the Pacifica to Plaintiffs, and performing
incidental service in the month following the sale, the Chrysler Defendants’ next inspection
of the vehicle occurred on December 15, 2012, well outside the five-year inspection
requirement.21
Accordingly, due to Plaintiffs’ failure to comply with the terms of each respective
warranty, I find Plaintiffs’ reliance on either warranty misplaced. The Chrysler Defendants’
motion for reargument is granted.
18
See Motion for Reargument, Exhibit C, Maintenance Log.
19
Id.20
See Motion to Dismiss, Exhibit F. Service dates and corresponding mileage are listed as follows: 3/22/2010 –
6,000 miles; 3/17/2011 – 15,000 miles; 4/18/2012 – 20,000 miles.
21
See Motion to Dismiss, Exhibit F.
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ORDER
Upon reconsideration of the Chrysler Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment,
for the reasons stated herein, the motion is GRANTED.
SO ORDERED
_________________________________
Alex J. Smalls,
Chief Judge
Marconi-OP June 2015
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