Hertz Sues Research Firm for Defamation
Hertz has filed a lawsuit alleging that a company defamed it in a report that named Hertz among 20 large companies “most likely to declare bankruptcy” within a year.
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. has filed a lawsuit alleging that a company defamed Hertz in a report that named Hertz among 20 large companies “most likely to declare bankruptcy” within a year, according to Reuters.
The lawsuit, filed Sept. 25 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County, Hertz sued Audit Integrity, an accounting and governance risk analysis company, and its Chief Executive Officer Jack Zwingli for defamation and trade libel over the Sept. 15 report. In its complaint, Hertz said the defendants had “no factual basis” for saying its financial statements were fraudulent.
Hertz’s chief executive Mark Frissora said in a statement on Sept. 28 that the lawsuit was an appropriate response to the publication of “false and harmful information” about Hertz. “Not only are the conclusions about our financial health baseless, but questioning the integrity of our financial reporting is indefensible,” he added.
Hertz said the defendants had “no factual basis” for saying its financial statements were fraudulent. Hertz added that if Audit Integrity had they used generally recognized methods to detect fraud, they would have concluded otherwise, or that they lacked sufficient information to say there was fraud.
In response to the lawsuit, Zwingli said in a statement, “We are disappointed that Hertz has taken this action in an attempt to stifle an opinion they do not agree with. We firmly stand behind our methodology and findings, and will vigorously defend ourselves against this unwarranted litigation.”
More Rental Operations

Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
