Severson Wins Verdict For Ford Motor Credit Company

(Last updated December 13, 2004)

On December 2, after a seven day trial in the San Diego Superior Court, Severson trial attorneys Andrea Henningsen and Kristin Walker obtained a jury verdict in favor of Ford Motor Credit Company.  The jury unanimously rejected  very substantial damage claims made by a major Southern California ice cream distributor which had sued Ford Credit for breach of contract, conversion and interference with prospective advantage.  The case arose from Ford Credit's lease of several large refrigerated trucks to the plaintiff.  When plaintiff failed repeatedly to make timely lease payments, and to respond to Ford Credit's urgent efforts to communicate, Ford Credit retook some of the trucks.  Plaintiff claimed that the repossession was wrongful, that Ford Credit did not properly dispose of the property and that its distribution business suffered significant damage.  The jury not only rejected every cause of action, but went on to award Ford Credit judgment on the remaining deficiency owing after its disposition of the leased property.