Class action against Affordable Auto settled
This office, along with Attorney Kenneth D. Quat of Framingham, recently settled a consumer class action against Affordable Auto Leasing, Inc., of Fall River. We sued Affordable Auto on behalf of consumers who signed contracts with them that were in effect anytime since August 2015. Compared to sales, leases of used vehicles have serous costs and financial risks, making disclosure especially important before you decide to enter into such a transaction.
Our lawsuit claims that these leases did not fully and properly disclose the terms of the deal. We also claim that certain clauses on the back of the contract, which were designed to make it harder for consumers to sue Affordable for lemon cars or any other problem, were unfair and should not be enforced.
Affordable denies that it did anything wrong, but it agreed to settle the case by not enforcing the disputed clauses of the lease and by changing its leases so as not to include these unfair terms in the future. As an alternative to a tiny payment to each of more than 500 class members, Affordable also agreed to pay $500 to South Coastal Counties Legal Services, Inc.; to pay a service award of $500 to the class representative; and to pay up to $25,000 in legal fees and costs involved in bringing and concluding this case.
A notice has been mailed to every identified member of the class. The notice explains the lawsuit, the terms of settlement, and the rights of class members to object if they think the settlement is unfair.
Being a class member does not affect any other rights or liabilities that any class member may have with regard to Affordable Auto.
On the top right bar of this site, you will see the heading: “Class action settlement: Valley v. Affordable Auto Leasing, Inc.” Click on it for links to the important court documents about this case.
You are welcome to contact me by phone or by e-mail if you have any questions about the lawsuit, the settlement, or any other aspect of your transaction with Affordable Auto.
