Freeman v. J.I.H. Investments, LP

Julie Freeman, individually and on behalf of 5,314 similarly situated car buyers, filed a lawsuit against J.L.H. Investments, *368LP, a/k/a Hendrick Honda of Easley (“Hendrick”), seeking damages under the South Carolina Dealers Act1 (the “Dealers Act”) on the ground that Hendrick “unfairly” and “arbitrarily” charged all of its customers “closing fees”2 that were not calculated to reimburse Hendrick for actual closing costs. A jury returned a verdict in favor of Freeman in the amount of $1,445,786.00 actual damages. In post-trial rulings, the trial judge: (1) denied Hendrick’s motions to overturn…