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The dealer, which has two lots on Northeast 82nd Avenue, had been accused of purchasing cars from people and then failing to pay them within the 15-day limit imposed by the state. Scott's was also charged with failing to transfer ownership papers to the new owners in a timely manner. In addition, the dealer failed to pay $18,000 in state fines for 61 violations, which date back to 1994. Despite this track record, Johnson granted a temporary restraining order, allowing Scott's to keep its doors open until the dealer gets its day in court. Scott's maintained that the business would be unfairly damaged before it had the right to defend itself. Scott's 90 employees also protested the DMV's move, which put them out of work. "Their employer put them in that predicament," says Husen. Husen wouldn't criticize the judge's move, but said, "According to our laws and rules, we have the right to suspend a dealer from doing business if they are a danger to consumers." And--surprise, surprise--within a week of opening its doors, Scott's drew a new complaint. At an Oregon Consumer League meeting last weekend, Gratiela Soare of Southeast Portland told a state Department of Justice official that Scott's had sold her a damaged car, lied to her about her credit record and duped her on the financing contract. In early November, she asked Scott's to buy the car back. Last week, Soare received a letter from business manager Don Ross saying the dealer would only reimburse her for repairs. Ross did not return WW's call. DOJ spokesman Peter Cogswell says Soare's complaint hasn't been officially recorded, but the office is involved in ongoing discussions with Scott's over customer complaints. |
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