Two central Ohio car dealerships are facing civil lawsuits filed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office, accusing them of altering odometer readings, failing to turn over titles to dozens of customers who purchased vehicles, and several other consumer protection violations.
The lawsuits, one from Franklin County and the other from Delaware County claim that each dealership broke Ohio’s rules on consumer sales, motor vehicle certificates, and odometer tampering.
A lawsuit in Delaware County Common Pleas Court claims that Johnathan Paul Kirkham, who runs Kirkham’s Starfleet Cars at 525 N Sandusky St. in Delaware city, did not properly transfer vehicle titles to customers who bought cars from his store.
Yost reported that there are 32 complaints connected to titles involving Starfleet. The state will use $138,135 from its Title Defect Recission Fund to help eligible consumers, while the Attorney General’s Office takes legal action against Kirkham’s.
Way 2 Go Auto Sales, located at 4660 Cleveland Ave. in Columbus and run by Kofi Bimpeh, is facing a lawsuit in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. They are accused of not providing vehicle titles, changing odometer values, and misrepresenting rebuilt salvage vehicles. The Attorney General’s office says they got 20 complaints about problems with car titles, incorrect information about salvage vehicles, return policies, and issues with odometer readings.
Way 2 Go Auto Sales and Kirkham’s Starfleet Cars could not be contacted for a response on Wednesday. The phone numbers for both businesses seem to be out of service.
“People in Ohio work hard and deserve to get their money’s worth,” Yost said in a statement. “Whether it’s a planned delay in titles or outright cheating, my office will put a stop to dealership scams.”
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