In the latest development regarding lawsuits against car dealer Denny Hecker, Ford Motor Co. won a $3.1 million judgment on May 4 against Hecker’s Stillwater Ford, Lincoln-Mercury Inc. dealership.

Ford had filed suit in January in U.S. District Court against the dealership for failing to hold up its end of a financing agreement. Hecker closed the Stillwater dealership along with five others in November after Chrysler Financial Services pulled its financing.

Last month, Chrysler won a $476.9 million judgment against Hecker.

Hecker still faces a lawsuit from Hyundai Motor Financial over $104 million that company says it lent him to finance 4,500 vehicles. Hecker’s Denny Hecker Automotive Group has sold or closed more than 20 dealerships since last fall after Chrysler cut off its credit. He has closed his lease and fleet sales operations and 40 of his Advantage Rent A Car locations.

It is unclear how the judgment may be related to other lawsuits between Hecker and Chrysler. A spokeswoman for Chrysler Financial declined to comment, citing the company’s policy on active litigation.

In an e-mailed statement provided to news media on May 4, Hecker said, “Today’s legal proceedings are extremely hard felt and disappointing after several months of ongoing discussions with my long-term business and financial partner. While today’s court filing speaks for itself, the judgment reflects the gross amounts claimed to be owed before the sale of the underlying collateral, including the fleet of vehicles, inventory and real estate, which secured the indebtedness. My legal counsel and financial consultants are reviewing options and steps to be taken. In the meantime, I remain focused on the future of my businesses as I look to retool the enterprise in these difficult economic times.”

0 Comments