In a decisive victory against Auto Fraud Legal Center (Hawk Berry, Josh Green), Auto Legal Group (ALG) proved that a buyer’s claim of verbal misrepresentation was brought in bad faith. Not only was the case dismissed, but the dealer was also awarded its attorney’s fees and costs — a rare and powerful outcome in arbitration.

The dispute centered on allegations that a dealership employee had promised spark plugs were changed during a tune-up. Just weeks later, the buyer claimed costly repairs were needed. The arbitrator, however, found these allegations “disingenuous and self-serving” and ruled that continuing the case against the dealer was itself bad faith.

This case highlights a growing trend: plaintiffs’ lawyers increasingly base claims on supposed oral promises about “prior maintenance” — not just prior damage. The takeaway is clear: credibility disputes are costly and uncertain. Dealers can protect themselves by using affordable tools like DealerXT.com, which records disclosures and spoken promises, helping prevent baseless litigation before it starts.