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Unique Performance victims sue Carroll Shelby

 
4 4,891 views Apr 2, 2008
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Unique Performance victims sue Carroll Shelby

Unique Performance victims sue Carroll Shelby

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Just days after the liquidation of the shady car customizer's assets, Carroll Shelby has been served with a suit brought by the former customers of Unique Performance, the Texas company that engaged in title-washing and other scandalous behavior that eventually led to its bankruptcy and criminal charges against its owner, Doug Hasty. Shelby's only involvement in the Unique Performance operation was his licensing of the use of the Shelby brand for certain models.

Mike Erinakes, a local businessman who paid $162,750 to Unique Performance for a Shelby Mustang Super Snake, is a plaintiff in one of the suits. He is claiming that Shelby's endorsement of the cars was the determining factor in his decision to purchase, and that the endorsement makes Shelby liable for Unique Performance's failure to deliver the Super Snake after the business was raided and shut down late last year, reports the Farmer's Branch, Texas affiliate of CBS.

A former Secret Service Agent, James Bartee, has filed a similar lawsuit against Shelby. He had purchased a Shelby Mustang GT 350SR from the doomed customizer.

"No one would have ordered these cars if it wasn't for Carroll Shelby," Bartee said.

Sixty-one cars were seized when Unique Performance was raided in November last year, and in theory each of the owners of those cars could bring a suit like those of Bartee and Erinakes.

The recent liquidation of the company's assets massed over $1 million in sales - enough to cover the $900,000 IRS bill for unpaid taxes, but leaving the 140 people with claims against the firm to divide the remaining $137,000. If the lawsuits against Shelby are successful, the precedent could be set for the rest of those owed money by Unique Performance to seek the remainder from the racing and customization legend.



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Comments (4)

  1. By Chris Posted: 4/2/2008 4:27pm PDT

    While I certainly can't help but feel bad for Carroll Shelby now being sued by the former customers of Unique Performance, I would have to throw my hat in on the side of the plantiffs of this case. Mr. Shelby's representatives should have sensed something was not kosher about this company long before the IRS raided and shut down the struggling company. I'm just sorry that Mr Shelby may be forever linked to this disaster.
     
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  2. By Gus Posted: 4/2/2008 5:34pm PDT

    It is a bummer, but I doubt Shelby made any profit from this, and so he would be immune from any lawsuit.
    It's really hard to sue somebody "around a corner" as my lawyer buddy says...
     
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  3. By jimmy finnig Posted: 8/30/2008 2:15am PDT

    Shelby made millions off of this partnership. He sold licensing agreements, parts, motors, etc. He was just as much involved as unique. The problems started with his motors causing problems which created delays. Doug's partner Shelby refused to take care of any of the motor problems...yeah, the ones that he built. So much for Shelby's reputation.
     
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  4. ma_gt500bill avatar gt500bill Posted: 12/23/2008 3:43pm PST

    This old Goat deserves to be sued by all these peolple that lost their money. Thsi old fart would be a nobody if the SAAC Shelby American Automobile Club had not kept files and papers documenting the Shelby's. Then Carroll has sued them to try and get money from the people who put him on a pedestal. Then he sued the companies over trademark infringment over the CObra. The body and chassis was designed in England By AC cars. It never belonged to him either. He was trying to collect on somebody elses idea--- he lost that lawsuit. He has a childrens heart fund which was investigated and was found out that only less than 5% of the money he collected ever went to charity. What a friggin loser. Now Shelby is suing Factory Five over what he calls trademark infringenent on the Daytona Coupe which he did not own or trademark. HE IS JUST ONE SAD, OLD, DYING HAS BEEN LOSER THAT HAS NOTHING ELSE TO DO. i HOPE HE CROAKS SOON
     
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