For Immediate Release
May 11, 1999
Contact: Jennifer Salvato, Genene Wiggins
973-504-6327
Monmouth County Prosecutors Office
732-409-3673
State Joins Monmouth County In Announcing Crack Down
On Two Monmouth County Auto Repair Shops
NEWARK - The Division of Consumer Affairs and the Monmouth County
Prosecutor's Office are taking action against two Monmouth County auto
repair shops, alleging they charged consumers for repairs never
performed, Division of Consumer Affairs Director Mark S. Herr and
Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye announced today.
The Division of Consumer Affairs ("Consumer Affairs") filed suit
against two Lee Myles Transmissions franchises and their owners for
allegedly making unnecessary transmission repairs, charging for repairs
never performed and failing to disclose certain facts about the repairs
to consumers since September 1998.
Named in separate complaints filed recently in Monmouth County Superior
Court are: Lee Myles Transmissions in Eatontown (a/k/a Aantrans Inc.)
and its owner/operators Harlan and Ann Tuckman of Holmdel, and their
manager Jack Sayegh of South Toms River; and Lee Myles Transmissions in
Freehold (a/k/a S& E Transmissions Inc.) and its owner/operators Samuel
and Brian Tukachinsky of Marlboro.
The Prosecutor's Office indicted the same defendants alleging similar
crimes. A Monmouth County Grand Jury returned separate indictments
against the owners and managers of the Lee Myles Transmissions
franchises. The Tuckmans and Sayegh were named in one indictment. The
Tukachinskys and their manager, James Hoffman, were named in a separate
indictment.
The civil suits and indictments were the result of investigations into
both auto repair shops initiated by the Prosecutor's Office and later
referred to Consumer Affairs for civil action.
"Consumers are entitled to itemized bills that spell-out the cost and
nature of automotive repairs. Consumers should only be paying for
services that were actually needed and actually performed," Herr said.
"Anyone who breaks the public's trust will be prosecuted."
"This not only helps the consumer, but benefits the honest business
people who predominate in this community," Kaye said. "The few bad
apples, unfortunately, make everyone else look bad."
One customer was allegedly told by the Tukachinskys in Freehold that her
car needed an entirely rebuilt transmission when in fact her vehicle
only needed a new gasket. The customer, instead of being shown her car's
transmission, was allegedly shown a "dummy" transmission used by the
defendants to convince customers to authorize unnecessary work.
According to the State's complaints, both companies also allegedly:
- failed to itemize clearly the cost and nature of all work performed on automobiles;
- failed to disclose, as required by law, whether the parts used
to make repairs were new, reconditioned or used.
The Tuckmans and Sayegh, of the Eatontown franchise, also allegedly
failed to post signs notifying consumers of their right to receive
copies of written estimates and any other signed documents, as required
by the Consumer Fraud Act. ("CFA").
The State's suit seeks injunctive relief, monetary penalties, and
restitution for consumers. Both companies face civil penalties of up to
$7,500 for each violation of the CFA.
Auto-related complaints make up 25 percent of all complaints received by
Consumer Affairs, making the prosecution of this type of fraud a
priority, Herr said.
Deputy Attorney General Gail M. Cookson of the Division of Law is
handling this case for the state.
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