Jury Awards $11K in Lotus Esprit Repair Fraud Case
Table of Contents
Case Background
A Jacksonville nonprofit museum sued an auto repair shop after a rare 2001 Lotus Esprit Twin Turbo suffered extensive damage during what turned into a years-long repair nightmare. The jury returned its verdict on December 11, 2025, finding in favor of the museum on its statutory claims under the Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Act.
Cause
JAAMM Incorporated, operating as Jacksonville Automotive & Motorcycle Museum, delivered a collector-grade 2001 Lotus Esprit TT to Eurospec, Inc. for engine repairs in November 2016. The vehicle, one of fewer than 100 produced that year, arrived in excellent condition with the exception of engine problems. The museum planned to restore and auction the donated car to benefit its nonprofit mission. What followed became a prolonged dispute over botched repairs, unauthorized work, and damage from improper storage.
Injury
The museum alleged that Eurospec repeatedly declared the vehicle repaired, yet the car broke down within blocks of the shop on multiple occasions. Between February 2017 and July 2018, the Esprit failed four separate times immediately after pickup. Beyond the mechanical failures, the museum claimed the repair shop stored the rare collector car outside despite promises to keep it indoors. This exposure caused flooding in the headlight compartments, sun damage to the leather dashboard, deterioration of exterior plastic components, and damage to the tires and wheels. The interior also showed grease marks and dirt from mechanics entering the vehicle without proper care.
Damages Sought
The museum sought damages exceeding $30,000 under both negligence and the Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Act. The complaint documented repair charges totaling approximately $17,500 for work that allegedly never fixed the underlying problems. Additional costs included $1,500 for headlight system replacement caused by water damage during outdoor storage.
Key Arguments and Proceedings
Legal Representation
Plaintiff: JAAMM Incorporated d/b/a Jacksonville Automotive & Motorcycle Museum
· Counsel for Plaintiff: Michael L. Duncan, Esq. | Matthew Pearce McLauchlin
· Experts for Plaintiff: Mark Daniels
Defendant: Eurospec, Inc.
· Counsel for Defendant: Michael Fox Orr, Esq. | Erin T. Perry, Esq | Theodore C. Wagenblast III, Esq. | John William Leonard
· Experts for Defendant: Timothy A. Casey | Chip Davis
Claims
Negligence
The museum argued that Eurospec owed a duty to use proper care in both repairing and storing the vehicle. The shop breached that duty by failing to complete repairs correctly and by leaving the collector car exposed to the elements for extended periods.
Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Act Violations
The museum claimed Eurospec violated three provisions of the statute. First, the shop charged for repairs that the customer never expressly or impliedly authorized. Second, technicians willfully departed from accepted practices and professional standards. Third, the shop made statements that were untrue, deceptive, or misleading about the condition of the repairs.
Defense
Eurospec denied liability and raised three affirmative defenses. The shop claimed the museum contributed to the vehicle's problems through negligent maintenance before delivery. According to the defense, the Esprit arrived with an engine already damaged from improper care, not in the excellent condition the museum described.
The repair shop also pointed to a period of several months when the vehicle left its possession and control. During that time, other individuals or parties may have contributed to the damage the museum now blamed on Eurospec.
Finally, Eurospec argued the museum failed to mitigate its damages. Technicians advised the museum about additional necessary repairs, but the customer disagreed and took the vehicle anyway, only to have it break down. Regarding outdoor storage, the defense maintained the museum always knew the facility lacked indoor storage capacity. Eurospec claimed it took protective measures including wrapping the engine block in plastic and covering the car.
Jury Verdict
The jury deliberated and returned its verdict on December 11, 2025. On the negligence claim, jurors found no negligence on the part of Eurospec that legally caused the museum's damages. The jury also found the museum itself bore no comparative negligence.
However, the jury reached a different conclusion on the statutory claims. Jurors found Eurospec did not charge for unauthorized repairs and did not willfully depart from accepted professional standards. But the jury determined the repair shop made statements that were untrue, deceptive, or misleading and that the shop knew or should have known these statements were false.
The jury valued the Lotus Esprit at $15,000 when the museum delivered it to Eurospec in November 2016. By the time Eurospec returned the vehicle in July 2023, jurors determined its value dropped to $25,000. The jury found no compensable loss of use for the vehicle. For damages resulting from the statutory violation, the jury awarded the museum $11,067.36.
The verdict represents a partial victory for the Jacksonville museum. While the jury rejected the negligence theory entirely, it validated the claim that Eurospec misled its customer about the status of repairs. The damage award appears to reflect the repair charges the museum paid for work that failed to fix the vehicle.
Under the Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Act, the museum may also seek attorney fees and costs in addition to the damage award. The case spanned five years from the initial complaint filed in November 2020 through the December 2025 verdict.
Court Documents