Honda loses small-claims suit over hybrid MPG

[Robb]

LOS ANGELES — The Southern California owner of a Honda hybrid car won her unusual small-claims court lawsuit against the automaker over the vehicle's failure to deliver its stated fuel economy.

Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Douglas Carnahan awarded Heather Peters $9,867 on Wednesday, saying Honda did mislead her about the expected mileage.

"At a bare minimum Honda was aware ... that by the time Peters bought her car there were problems with its living up to its advertised mileage," he wrote in the judgment.

Peters opted out of a class-action lawsuit so she could try to claim a higher payment for the failure of her Civic to deliver the 50 miles per gallon that was promised when she bought it.

Read More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46228337/ns/business-autos/#.Tyq_5OOXTN4

[former9thward]

1. Interesting to see if this decision survives on appeal.

The parties can't have attorneys in small claims but they can when the decision is appealed to higher courts. I doubt the decision will stand once attorneys get involved.