Facts

In February 2010, Rand MacQuiddy purchased a new car with a standard manufacturer's warranty. Between 2011 and 2012, he claimed that there were four instances where his vehicle would not start in the morning. He brought the vehicle to the dealership for repairs, but the cause of the dead battery was never identified. He returned the car to the dealership in May 2012, but did not pick it up again until June.

MacQuiddy sued Mercedes-Benz USA LLC, alleging that the vehicle's poor condition constituted a violation of federal and California "lemon law."

Mercedes admitted liability, and made an offer to repurchase the vehicle and compensate MacQuiddy. MacQuiddy rejected the offer, and the trial continued on the question of whether Mecedes willfully failed to repurchase the vehicle and whether MacQuiddy was owed civil penalties.

Result

The jury found that Mercedes was not liable for civil penalties.