Legal Question in Consumer Law in Florida

Straw purchase (auto)

5 years ago my now former boyfriend came to me and told me he could not finance a car own & asked if I could put it in my name. He worked for the dealership and was the sales person, the managers knew the car was for him as well as the bank the car was financed thru (I called them after and asked if he could be put on the loan, the rep asked if I was the one who put the car in my name for my boyfriend, she then told me that she would not recommend putting him on the loan). Everyone told me it was fine to do this, it wasnt until a few years later that I found out that it was fruadulent. The car was repoed last Sept. Do I have a case against the bank or my ex for this or should I just take this as a really expensive lesson learned. The dealership has since gone out of business for shady practices.


Asked on 7/12/09, 2:48 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Alan Wagner Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore P.A.

Re: Straw purchase (auto)

You did not describe anything that was fraudulent. Putting the car in your name and your being on the hook to pay for it, is a really dumb idea if there is just a boyfrien/girlfriend relationship -- but you know that now. If you have anything in writing about the contract between you and your ex, and depoending on what the loss was, you may want to pursue it in small claims court. I do not see a claim against the Bank or the car dealership.

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Answered on 7/12/09, 3:05 pm


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