Economic Research: Sansone Auto Mall

Sansone Auto Mall

NEWARK – Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Sharon Joyce, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, today announced that four dealerships within the “Sansone Auto Network” have agreed to settle a state lawsuit by paying $175,000 and revising their business practices. The state alleged that the four Sansone dealerships, located in Middlesex and Monmouth counties, violated the state’s Consumer Fraud Act and Motor Vehicle Advertising Regulations by failing to disclose to consumers prior damage to used vehicles, prior rental or fleet use of used vehicles, and that the price posted or advertised for a used motor vehicle did not include licensing costs, registration fees and taxes. “Our laws and regulations require disclosure of material facts to consumers prior to their purchase of a motor vehicle. We expect full compliance, so consumers can make informed decisions before spending their hard-earned money,” Attorney General Dow said. The four dealerships included in the Consent Judgment are Fords National Auto Mart, Inc., which does business as Sansone Ford Lincoln Mercury in Ocean Township; Paladin Chevrolet, which does business as Sansone Chevrolet in Avenel; Sansone Plaza Dodge, Inc., which does business as Sansone Dodge in Ocean Township; and Sansone Management Corp., which does business as Sansone's Route 1 Auto Mall in Avenel. Two of these dealerships – Sansone Chevrolet and Sansone Dodge -- entered into a Consent Order with the Division of Consumer Affairs in 2004 to resolve allegations similar to the ones contained in the 2009 lawsuit. Without admission of liability or any wrongdoing, the defendants agreed to the following business practices to settle the state’s lawsuit: