Allan Nott Enterprises, Inc. v. Nicholas Starr Auto, L.L.C.

*113I. Introduction

{¶ 1} In this case, a thief acquired a motor vehicle by using a counterfeit check and then sold the vehicle. The underlying legal issue we must answer is whether the wrongdoer can pass a valid title to that vehicle to a good-faith purchaser for value. The court of appeals held that because using a counterfeit check to acquire the vehicle was a “transaction of purchase” under R.C. 1302.44, the wrongdoer was able to pass valid title to a good-faith purchaser for value. We reverse and hold that under R.C. Chapter 4505, Ohio’s Certificate of Motor Vehicle Title Act, and Hardware…