Transport Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, BMW Canada Inc., Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. and Mercedes-Benz USA LLC

Transport Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, BMW Canada Inc., Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. and Mercedes-Benz USA LLC

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Canadian Government By Canadians Who Imported Cars From The United States

TORONTO, Feb. 28 /CNW/ - A class action lawsuit has been filed against Transport Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, BMW Canada Inc., Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. and Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. The lawsuit alleges that Mercedes, BMW and the government have violated competition and consumer protection laws by forcing Canadians to pay excessive fees for unnecessary vehicle modifications and approvals when they imported cars from the United States.

Many Canadians want to buy and import a car from the United States, where prices are lower. As long as specific laws and procedures are followed, a vehicle can be imported. The lawsuit alleges that Transport Canada made arrangements with Mercedes, BMW and others to impose additional procedures and

costs on Canadians who import their brands of vehicles.

The lawsuit was filed by Fournier Leasing Company Ltd. and Canadian Auto Associates Ltd. They allege that the government made them pay thousands of dollars to Mercedes and BMW for recall information and unnecessary vehicle modifications and import approvals. The lawsuit claims that these costs are

not imposed on importers who bring other makes of vehicles into the country and are not required under Canadian law.

Fournier Leasing and Canadian Auto Associates also allege that they were compelled to get modifications done at exorbitant prices by Mercedes and BMW dealerships instead of at competitive prices by the repair shop of their choice. They are represented by lawyers Glyn Hotz, Darrel Hotz and Brian Osler.

"The government has one set of rules for Mercedes and BMW and another set of rules for everyone else," says Mr. (Glyn) Hotz. "You have to get authorization from Mercedes and BMW to import their cars and you even have to pay them a fee for their authorization, but you don't need authorization from other manufacturers."

The lawsuit seeks recovery of the unnecessary and excessive fees the government forced Canadians to pay to Mercedes and BMW. The lawsuit also alleges that people have been paying artificially inflated prices for new Mercedes vehicles in Canada because the additional costs imposed on importers restricts competition in the Canadian market.

"Lots of people want to buy a more competitively priced car from the U.S.," says Mr. Osler. "But the extra costs and uncertainty forced on importers by the government, Mercedes and BMW can prevent it from being worthwhile."

For further information: Brian Osler, Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public, tel: (905) 882-7045, email: brian@geodesic.ca; or Glyn Hotz, Barrister & Solicitor, tel: (416) 785-7883, email: hotz@sympatico.ca