I don't know what your lawyer would say about it, or if your state laws would allow you to include violating ADA regs in the suit. I do know that it could be a leverage point for your attorney if he were to tell the dealer that if a settlement offer isn't approved then the ADA violations would be included in your suit. Any jury seeing a disabled woman who got swindled into purchasing a car that if it did run would not have even a prayer of keeping her from being seriously hurt and likely further disabled would be even harder on the defendant. At least that is how it works here.
I am sure a jury would find you sympathetic and while that doesn't change the laws, it DOES change how juries see you and how harshly they treat their rulings. What you can do with those violations is one thing, how they can be used as leverage is another, Know what I mean??
I am glad you did not let this go and you stood up for yourself. This dealership has probably swindled hundreds of people, if not more, and taking the original documents when the car is brought in for repair is probably standard awful procedure. Part of me wonders how he treats his mechanics? ONe of them willing to move to a new company might be willing to testify that it is standard to remove paperwork if a newly purchased car is brought in for repairs. Or an employee who left the business might be willing to come forward.
I am sure a jury would find you sympathetic and while that doesn't change the laws, it DOES change how juries see you and how harshly they treat their rulings. What you can do with those violations is one thing, how they can be used as leverage is another, Know what I mean??
I am glad you did not let this go and you stood up for yourself. This dealership has probably swindled hundreds of people, if not more, and taking the original documents when the car is brought in for repair is probably standard awful procedure. Part of me wonders how he treats his mechanics? ONe of them willing to move to a new company might be willing to testify that it is standard to remove paperwork if a newly purchased car is brought in for repairs. Or an employee who left the business might be willing to come forward.