Complaint Review: Bobby Lanuza's for Hondas Only - Conyers Georgia

This is in reference to the loss of my 1986 F-150 pickup truck was stolen from "Bobby Lanuza's for Hondas Only" at 1911 Old Covington Road in Conyers, Georgia 30012. I had left my truck there for bodywork on or about December 15, 2000 and on December 27; I paid $1000 for the bodywork. On January 12, 2001 I was required to pay an additional $79.50 for the special order pinstripes that had to be added. When I paid, I met and talked with the two body shop mechanics who were working on my truck - Roderick Leonard Heard and Otis Robson

They kept my vehicle and the keys were labeled and locked inside the building of "Bobby Lanuza's for Hondas Only." On February 5, 2001 the truck was reported stolen and Bobby Lanuza personally called me at home to advise me. Otis Robson, a mechanic that actually helped run the business, stated that the keys were taken from inside the building. When the truck was recovered and returned on February 22, 2001 it had a lot of damage; the truck had approximately 2,500 additional miles put on it, the front left fender was damaged, the transmission was straining, making noise, and shifting rough, the engine had a rough idle and kept shutting off, there was damage to the passenger rear side where the bodywork was done was also cracked, the wheels were out of alignment, the tires were out of balance, one hubcap was missing, and the rear shocks were destroyed by overloading the truck with too much weight.

I paid out $175 for towing and impound and $121.58 for engine repair and have the reciepts to prove it. However, estimated future expenses include: Transmission repair $2000, Front left fender repair $941.84, Replacement hubcap $45, Alignment $70, and 2 Rear shocks $95. This is a total of $3448.42 of repairs to damages suffered.

Also, because the truck was stolen, the pinstripes were not applied to my vehicle. Therefore, I paid $79.50 for services not rendered.

My insurance will not cover any of the damages because I had only liability insurance.

On June 5, 2001 Roderick Leonard Heard was sentenced to one-year incarceration followed by four years probation for the offence of Theft by taking of my truck. Roderick Loenard Heard listed his address as 2374 Brianna Conyers Georgia 30012.

I am seeking financial restitution from Bobby Lanuza, the owner opeator of the business "Bobby Lanuza's for Hondas Only" where the keys were kept locked inside the business until Roderick Heard, one of the body shop mechanics decided to steal it and trade it in for crack cocaine.

Bobby Lanuza states he and his business is not responsible for the damages for two reasons:

1) Roderick Heard was not an 'employee' of the business but an independant contractor, and

2) I signed a release that stated "I hereby authorize repair work to be done as described above with necessary parts to be listed at your regular prices. I hereby agree to pay cash on delivery of car or on satisfactory terms to you and until paid in full it shall constitute a lein on this car. I further agree that you will not be held responsible for car or articles left in car in case of fire, theft, accidents, or other causes beyond your control. My car may be driven by your employees for road tests at my own risk."

Sincerely,

David Wiley

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