Arther Masaoka v. George Pendleton, an individual; Nan Pendleton, an individual; George Pendleton and Nan Pendleton dba Discount Import Parts, et al
Published: Oct. 18, 1997 | Result Date: Aug. 19, 1997 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 767889 – $0
Judge
Court
Orange Superior
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Lou Nanos
(technical)
Terry O'Connor
(technical)
Facts
Between January 1993, through the present, plaintiff Masaoka operated an auto repair shop. Defendant Pendleton operated an auto parts store. Defendant Python Fuel Injection Co. (Python) was a company that remanufactured fuel injections. Between January 1993, and August 1995, plaintiff purchased fuel injectors from defendant Python through defendant Discount Import Parts Specialist (DIPS). Sometime on or about Aug. 20, 1995, all sets of fuel injectors purchased by the plaintiff developed leaks. The plaintiff, for fear of his customer's safety, took it upon himself to replace fuel injectors in all vehicles. Upon return of the allegedly defective fuel injectors, the plaintiff alleged defendant Pendleton accused the plaintiff of being a "crook and a thief," among other things. The plaintiff further alleged that defendant Pendleton went to plaintiff's business and made slanderous remarks about the plaintiff. The plaintiff brought this action against the defendants based on fraud, negligent misrepresentation, slander, breach of contract and negligence theories of recovery.
Settlement Discussions
The plaintiff made a settlement demand for $20,000. The defendants made a C.C.P. º998 offer of compromise for $2,500.
Damages
The plaintiff claimed damages of 270 hours at $55 to $75 per hour, plus $4,500 in parts replacement, damages associated with damage to reputation and loss of business opportunities and punitive damages.
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately one year after the case was filed.
Deliberation
1+ hours
Poll
11-1
Length
seven days
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