Barrett-Jackson sues customer due to defamation-Who is right here?

Do you side with the customer here or Barrett-Jackson? Post your comments below...

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 16 -- Late yesterday Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. LLC filed suit in U.S. District Court in relation to a situation that occurred at the company's January 2007 Scottsdale event. A consignor, apparently unhappy with the $300,000 sale price of his vehicle, placed chains and locks on the vehicle after it crossed the auction block and was sold, while it sat in the area where featured auction cars were displayed. He posted multiple notices on the vehicle claiming that the sale was void due to claimed "auction irregularities," and published other false and defamatory statements about Barrett-Jackson in view of the company's customers and the thousands of patrons attending the event. Barrett-Jackson's internal legal and security teams, and the Scottsdale Police Department, responded to the incident and documented the damage.

An ongoing internet smear campaign has stemmed from this seller dispute, with numerous defamatory rumors and untrue statements being published to websites and online chat rooms viewed by the company's core customer base. In particular, an untrue, derogatory and defamatory "article" referring to the above incident has made its way onto more than 20 automotive-related online "blogs" and discussion boards frequented by thousands of classic car enthusiasts around the world.

Barrett-Jackson filed its lawsuit in order to protect its 36-year reputation and business interests by seeking to correct the untrue information that has been published, and by filing suit against the responsible party on six separate counts, including defamation and breach of contract.

Barrett-Jackson constantly strives to maintain the utmost ethical standards in all the company's operations and activities. The company recognizes that not every customer will be happy with the result of every auction sale, and the Barrett-Jackson team values thoughtful, well-informed feedback. However, Barrett-Jackson takes the company's business reputation very seriously, and will do whatever is necessary to defend against unfounded claims.

Copies of the lawsuit can be obtained by contacting the clerk of the U.S. District Court in Phoenix or at http://www.azd.uscourts.gov.

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the "World's Greatest Collector Car Events(TM)" in Scottsdale and Palm Beach, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.barrett-jackson.com

Threepoint1415926 - 3/16/2007 10:23:59 PM

+4 Boost

"Do you side with the customer here or Barrett-Jackson?"


Well, let's hear the other side of the story now... and then I'll tell you what I think.

VinnyP - 3/16/2007 10:39:24 PM

+1 Boost

If he wanted it auctioned, why is he complaining afterwards, when it didn't reach the price he wanted. It was an auction after all. Or was the starting big 300k, and he wanted it higher.

Agent004 - 3/16/2007 11:47:58 PM

+1 Boost

He shoulda set a reserve ebay style ;)

VinnyP - 3/17/2007 1:10:55 AM

+1 Boost

lol thats what I was going to say.

golfer38 - 3/17/2007 9:38:49 AM

+1 Boost

Yeah, I'd like to hear the other side of the story as well.

Putting a reserve on the auctioned vehicle can have a negative effect. Sometimes it makes it more difficult to get the bidding started.

Neverfollow - 3/17/2007 11:52:51 AM

+1 Boost

I have also heard many of the rumors you elude to. Buyers and sellers alike seem to be very unhappy in recent years at the treatment given to them by Craig Jackson and his staff. Everything from the additional fees that seem to get tacked on every year, to auctioneers loosing track of winning bidders and still charging the seller 18% of the gavel price to get his vehicle back. More and more I here of unethical business practices that really piss peaple off. Many of whom I've heard swear to never come back.

chuck717 - 3/17/2007 10:46:49 PM

+1 Boost

The judge was told the car would bring between 200k to 300K and the bidding is about 2.5 minutes in length unless many more hands are up.
He accepted the terms of the car has to sell, this was just sour grapes no way that car was going for 700k like he said i was in attendence, the car was not even worth 200k i don't care what the judge put in it.
What a guy, who chains the car so the rightful owner can't take it this man needs to sell any other car he owns on E-BAY???

ThunderPig - 12/15/2007 2:33:13 AM

+1 Boost

I just saw the auction footage on TV and the seller said he was happy with the $300,000 at first. He became upset when a bidder later told him he wanted to bid $310,000 and couldn't get the attention of the auctioneer. He was also shown saying he would be happy if it brought more than the $250,000 that the Chrysler museum had refused to pay for the car. Also, previous to the sale, he implied that a price higher than the car's serial number would be good ($153,XXX). To me, this is just a case of a sore loser with money to spend on lawyers. I don't believe Barrett-Jackson did anything wrong at all. That seller should be ashamed of himself for being such a cry baby, sniveling because he didn't get his way.