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March 29, 2006
EDDIE M. DIAZ, PLAINTIFF,v.PARAGON MOTORS OF WOODSIDE, INC. AND AMERICREDIT FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. DEFENDANTS.
Eddie Diaz brings this action against Paragon Motors of Woodside, Inc. ("Paragon") and Americredit Financial Services, Inc. ("Americredit") alleging that defendant Paragon Motors violated (1) the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), 15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.,*fn1 (2) the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), 15 U.S.C. § 1691,*fn2 (3) New York's Vehicle & Traffic Law § 417-a,*fn3 (4) New York's "Used Car Lemon Law," New York General Business Law § 198- b,*fn4 (5) the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2310,*fn5 by breaching (a) express and (b) implied warranties, and (6) New York General Business Law § 349 by its deceptive sales practices.*fn6 In addition, plaintiff alleges that (7) co-defendant Americredit is liable for damages on all claims which plaintiff asserts against co-defendant Paragon, pursuant to 16 C.F.R. § 433.2 (the "Holder Rule"), as a provider of consumer credit. Presently before the Court is the plaintiff's motion for partial summary judgment on Paragon's liability with respect to its TILA, ECOA and NY V&T § 417-a claims. Also before the Court are Paragon's and Americredit's cross-motions for summary judgment on all claims alleged in the complaint.
For the reasons set forth below, plaintiff's Rule 56(b) motions for summary judgment on liability with respect to his TILA and NY V&T § 417-a claims are granted. Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment as to his ECOA claim is denied. Paragon's motions for summary judgment are granted with respect to plaintiff's claims for violations of ECOA, Used Car Lemon Law, Breach of Express Warranty pursuant to the MMWA, and the New York Deceptive Sales Practice statute to the extent that claim is based on violations of ECOA. Paragon's motions for summary judgment are denied as to plaintiff's claims for violations of Breach of Implied Warranty and Revocation of Acceptance pursuant to the MMWA, and the New York Deceptive Sales Practice statute to the extent that claim is based on violations of TILA and NY V&T § 417-a. Americredit's motions for summary judgment are granted with respect to plaintiff's claims for violations of TILA, ECOA, Used Car Lemon Law, Breach of Express Warranty pursuant to MMWA, and the New York Deceptive Sales Practice statute to the extent premised on violations of ECOA. Americredit's motions for summary judgement are denied with respect to plaintiff's claims for violations of NY V&T § 417-a, Breach of Implied Warranty and Revocation of Acceptance pursuant to MMWA and the New York Deceptive Sales Practice statute to the extent these violations are premised on violations of TILA and § 417-a.
The following facts are drawn from the parties' Local Rule 56.1 statements, affidavits, depositions, and exhibits submitted in connection with these motions. They are undisputed except where noted.
On May 9, 2003, plaintiff Eddie Diaz visited Paragon's used car dealership at 57-02 Northern Boulevard, Woodside, New York in Queens County. Diaz told Paragon's salesman that he was interested in purchasing a used 2002 Chrysler Town and Country advertised in the New York Daily News on May 8, 2003 for sale at a purchase price of $13,495.00.*fn7 Plaintiff made a deposit of $500.00 towards the purchase of the car in order to assure its availability. He also signed a document listing "$4,000 Cash Down" in the space provided for price, under which was written, "Subject to Bank Approval", but with no total vehicle price or other fees listed. (Joint Ex. 2). The document, variously described as an "initial intent to buy", "customer's intention to buy" or "a buyer's order" by Paragon, (Benstock Dep., 26, 32-33, 43), included a description of the vehicle, its stock and VIN numbers, mileage of 30,540, and a notation of the $500 deposit. A form intended to disclose by checked boxes prior use of the vehicle as a police vehicle, taxi-cab, driver education or rental vehicle as required by Vehicle and Traffic Law § 417-a,*fn8 was left blank. (Joint Ex. 2; Benstock Dep., 36).
At the time, the parties agreed that Paragon would assist Diaz in financing the car.*fn9 Paragon thereafter submitted Diaz's loan application via an electronic data system called Dealer Track to determine whether Diaz was eligible for financing by a sub-prime lender, and at what amount.*fn10
On the same day, May 9, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPS), a sub-prime lender, pre-approved a loan to Diaz subject to certain conditions, including income and employment verification and payment by Paragon of an acquisition fee of $199 later charged to Diaz. The pre-approval provided for a maximum payment per month of $350, at an annual interest rate of 19.95%. (Joint Ex. 5). Based on these terms, Paragon set a selling price of $16,130.13, with CPS to provide financing. Additional charges included $1,500 for an extended warranty,*fn11 $1,454.49 in taxes and $140 in license, title, state inspection and processing fees. The total selling price listed on the proposed bill of sale, dated May 10, 2003, was $19,224.62. The down payment was fixed at $6,000, so the total remaining due would be $13,224.62. (Joint Ex. 11, Proposed Bill of Sale). Because Diaz would ultimately send $21,000 in payments to CPS, the total amount financed was $7,775.38 ($21,000 less $13,224.62), according to a proposed Retail Installment Contract, also dated May 10, 2003. (Joint Ex. 10, Proposed Retail Installment Contract). CPS turned down the loan for unexplained reasons, and it was eventually picked up by Americredit.
On the following day, May 10, 2003, Diaz again offered to purchase the car for the advertised price of $13,495, gave an additional deposit of $1,000.00, and again asked Paragon to obtain financing. According to Diaz, there were no further negotiations with respect to the purchase price of the vehicle on May 10. (Diaz Dep. 26). The next day, May 11, Paragon informed Diaz that in order to obtain financing, he would have to put $6,000 down, instead of $4,000 as previously provided for in the May 9 agreement.
Diaz stated that on May 12, 2003, he returned to Paragon to pay the additional $4,500 requested for the down payment, but did not execute any documents until the following day.*fn12 According to Diaz, on May 13, 2003 he returned to Paragon and executed a Retail Installment Contract ("RISC"), dated May 12, 2003, which disclosed the final details of the sale, and reflected an increase in the purchase price of the vehicle. According to Diaz, the Paragon finance manager told him that the original advertised price of $13,495 was not available because a primary lender would not finance the car, because a secondary lender had to be used, and because the extended warranty was necessary to obtain financing. (Diaz Dep., 34-37). Because he was putting down $6,000, the balance of $14,047.18 was to be financed by Americredit Financial with 60 monthly payments at $367.87 per month, equaling $22,072.20. The total finance charge listed in the RISC was $8,025.02. The "total sale price" for the vehicle including $16,590 purchase price, $1,517.18 sales tax, $8,025.02 finance charge, $1,800 extended warranty, and other license, title, state inspection and processing fees was stated as $28,072.20. (Joint Ex. 3, Retail Installment Contract).
On a bill of sale dated May 12, 2003, but not signed until May 13 according to Diaz, the purchase price was listed as $16,590 plus $1,800 described as "Other Equipment" apparently representing the new price for the extended warranty, $1,517.18 sales tax, and $140.00 for license, title, state inspection and processing fees, for a total cash price of $20,047.18.*fn13 (Joint Ex. 9, Bill of Sale). The bill of sale included a statement, signed by Diaz, that the "principal pride [sic: prior?] use of th[e] vehicle was as a rental vehicle." (Joint Ex. 9). Diaz stated the bill of sale was the last document he signed before taking possession of the vehicle. (Diaz Dep., 32-33).
The Limited Warranty
The sale included a limited warranty which covered repairs to covered parts, for 90 days or 4,000 miles. The warranty provided that the dealer would repair "covered parts listed on the reverse side" of the warranty or would reimburse the buyer for such repairs.*fn14 The warranty is dated May 10, 2003, but is not signed by either party.
The Vehicle Repairs
A few days after Diaz took possession of the vehicle on May 13, 2003, he complained that the brakes were not responding, the front wheels made a strange sound upon turning, and that there were problems with the air conditioning and mirrors. (Diaz Dep., 56-59). On May 20, he brought the vehicle back to Paragon for repairs to the mirror, ABS light and air conditioning, which were completed at no charge on May 23. (Def.'s Mem. Opp'n, Ex. 17).
Diaz brought the car back to Paragon again on May 30 for repairs to the C/S ABS*fn15 and brake light, and "the links and bushings." According to Diaz, the vehicle was sent to a Chrysler dealership, and returned about one month later, during which time Diaz rented another vehicle. Diaz did not pay for the repairs or rental vehicle, but stated that he paid $278 for additional insurance for the rental vehicle, which he did not seek to have reimbursed. (Diaz Dep., 70). The invoice from Bayside Chrysler, Plymouth, Jeep, Inc. describes repairs to the front suspension and ABS light, where "[c]ustomer states noise in front end over bumps" and "that the anti lock [sic] brake light is on and brake light on". Id. at Ex. 18. It is unclear from the invoice when the car was received and when it was delivered to Diaz, although it lists the "R.O. Date" as 06/06/03, and an invoice date of 06/27/03. (Def.'s Mem. Opp'n, Ex. 19). Diaz stated that after the car was returned to him the problem with the brake light reoccurred, and on July 10, he returned the vehicle to Bayside Chrysler for further repairs, which were completed that day or the day after at no charge to him. Diaz stated that the vehicle worked properly after these repairs.
After the 90-day warranty had expired, Diaz brought the car to Tony's Auto Body on October 9, 2003, for repairs following an accident in September 2003 (Def's Mem. Opp'n, Ex. 21; Diaz Dep., 89-93). On May 18, 2004, Jochi Auto Repair, Inc. performed work to the "Rear Anti Locks Sensor Installed Left and Right" and "Replace Front [illegible]". On July 20, 2004, Riverdale Chrysler Jeep performed additional repairs to the "check engine light". These repairs were either covered by insurance or Diaz's extended warranty. (Def.'s Ex. 22-23, Diaz Dep., 77-86.)
Plaintiff stated that several times he used the Chrysler for business instead of his other car, because he was concerned that the Chrysler was unsafe.*fn16 (Diaz Dep., 88). Diaz stated that he informed Paragon that he wanted them to take the vehicle back when he brought it in to be repaired for the second time in May or June of 2003. Paragon's agent did not accept the vehicle, but repaired it instead. (Diaz Dep., 88).
This Court has jurisdiction over plaintiff's TILA and ECOA claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1337. Plaintiff contends that this Court has jurisdiction over plaintiff's Magnuson-Moss Warranty claims, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)(1)(B), but has not alleged that it meets the amount in controversy requirements for jurisdiction in federal court. Nevertheless, this Court exercises supplemental jurisdiction over the warranty claims and plaintiff's remaining state law claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
Choice of Law
Where, as here, the parties have relied primarily on New York law, "such 'implied consent . . . is sufficient to establish choice of law.'" Motorola Credit Corp. v. Uzan, 388 F.3d 39, 61 (2d Cir. 2004)(citations omitted).
Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is appropriate "[w]hen the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party." Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co., Ltd. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 (1986). Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides for summary judgment "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). "An issue of fact is genuine if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party." Elec. Inspectors, Inc. v. Vill. of E. Hills, 320 F.3d 110, 117 (2d Cir. 2003). A fact is material when it "might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law." Id.
The party seeking summary judgment has the burden of demonstrating that no genuine issue of material fact exists. Apex Oil Co. v. DiMauro, 822 F.2d 246, 252 (2d Cir. 1987). In order to defeat such a motion, the non-moving party must raise a genuine issue of material fact. Although all facts and inferences therefrom are to be construed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, the non-moving party must raise more than a metaphysical doubt as to the material facts. See Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586; Harlen Assoc. v. Vill. of Mineola, 273 F.3d 494, 498 (2d Cir. 2001). "[A]n adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the adverse party's pleading, but . . . must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial." Fed. R. Civ. P 56(e). The non-moving party may not rely on conclusory allegations or unsubstantiated speculation. Twin Labs., Inc., v. Weider Health & Fitness, 900 F.2d 566, 568 (2d Cir. 1990). Rather, the non-moving party must produce more than a scintilla of admissible evidence that supports the pleadings. First Nat'l Bank of Ariz. v. Cities Serv. Co., 391 U.S. 253, 289-90 (1968); Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. v. Jones Chem. Inc., 315 F.3d 171, 175 (2d Cir. 2003).
The trial court's function in deciding such a motion is not to weigh the evidence or resolve issues of fact, but to decide instead whether, after resolving all ambiguities and drawing all inferences in favor of the non-moving party, there is a genuine issue for trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249 (1986); Pinto v. Allstate Ins. Co., 221 F.3d 394, 398 (2d Cir. 2000).
"The contention of one party that there are no issues of material fact preventing entry of judgment in its favor does not bar that party from asserting that there are issues of fact sufficient to prevent the entry of judgment as a matter of law against it." Walling v. Richmond Screw Anchor Co., 154 F.2d 780, 784 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 328 U.S. 870, 66 S.Ct. 1383, 90 L.Ed. 1640 (1946). Thus, the mere filing of cross-motions for summary judgment does not mean that the court must grant judgment as a matter of law for one side or the other. E.g., Home Insurance Co. v. Aetna Casualty & Surety Co., 528 F.2d 1388, 1390 (2d Cir. 1976) ("The fact that both sides ... sought summary judgment does not make it more readily available."); Rhoads v. McFerran, 517 F.2d 66, 67 (2d Cir. 1975). "[T]he mere fact that plaintiff has failed to meet his burden of proof on his motion for summary judgment does not entitle the defendant to judgment on its motion." Rothenberg v. Chemical Bank New York Trust Co., 400 F.Supp. 1299, 1302 (S.D.N.Y. 1975). Rather, the court must evaluate each party's motion on its own merits, taking care in each instance to draw all reasonable inferences against the party whose motion is under consideration." Schwabenbauer v. Board of Ed. of City School Dist. of City of Olean, 667 F.2d 305, 313-14 (2d Cir. 1981).
Mere conclusory allegations, speculation or conjecture will not avail a party resisting summary judgment. Kulak v. City of New York, 88 F.3d 63, 71 (2d Cir. 1996). If there is evidence in the record as to any material fact from which an inference could be drawn in favor of the non-movant, summary judgment is unavailable. Holt v. KMI-Continental, Inc., 95 F.3d 123, 128 (2d Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1228, 117 S.Ct. 1819, 137 L.Ed.2d 1027 (1997); Rattner v. Netburn, 930 F.2d 204, 209 (2d Cir. 1991).
Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
The purpose of the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA")*fn17 is "to assure a meaningful disclosure of credit terms so that the consumer will be able to compare more readily the various credit terms available to him and avoid the uninformed use of credit."
15 U.S.C. § 1601(a); Gibson v. Bob Watson Chevrolet-Geo. Inc., 112 F.3d 283, 285 (7th Cir. 1997) (TILA's purpose is "to protect consumers from being misled about the cost of credit"); Balderos v. City Chevrolet, 214 F.3d 849 (7th Cir. 2000). To this end, TILA requires clear and accurate disclosures by creditors*fn18 to consumers of any finance charge that the consumer will bear under the credit transaction. See 15 U.S.C. § 1638(a)(4).
TILA defines a "finance charge" as the "sum of all charges, payable directly or indirectly by the person to whom the credit is extended, and imposed directly or indirectly by the creditor as an incident to the extension of credit." 15 U.S.C. §1605(a).*fn19 However, the Federal Reserve Board's Official Staff Commentary to Regulation Z*fn20 exempts "the cost of doing business" from TILA's disclosure requirements:
Costs of doing business. Charges absorbed by the creditor as a cost of doing business are not finance charges, even though the creditor may take such costs into consideration in determining the interest rate to be charged or the cash price of the property or services sold. However, if the creditor separately imposes a charge on the consumer to cover certain costs, the charge is a finance charge if it otherwise meets the definition. For example:
A discount imposed on a credit obligation when it is assigned by a seller-creditor to another party is not a finance charge as long as the discount is not separately imposed on the consumer.
12 C.F.R. Pt. 226, Supp. I at 308-09.
In this case, Diaz points to three charges which he asserts were hidden finance charges. First, Diaz asserts that the price charged to him in excess of the advertised price was based on the need to obtain sub-prime financing and thus was a finance charge in violation of TILA. Second, he alleges that Paragon incurred a bank fee for assigning the credit agreement to Americredit and that because this fee was passed on to Diaz, it constituted a finance charge. Finally, Diaz argues that he was required to purchase an extended warranty as a condition to obtaining financing and that this additional cost constituted a finance charge requiring disclosure under TILA.
1. Advertised Price Increase:
Diaz argues that the increase in price above the advertised price constitutes a hidden finance charge because he was forced to pay the increase based on his need to secure sub-prime financing.
"An increase in the base price of an automobile that is not charged to a cash customer, but is charged to a credit customer, solely because he is a credit customer, triggers TILA's disclosure requirements." Cornist v. B.J.T. Auto Sales Inc., 272 F.3d 322, 327 (6th Cir. 2001)(emphasis in original). "Thus, in order to prevail on her claim that [defendant car dealer] failed to disclose this hidden finance charge, [plaintiff] 'must demonstrate a "causal connection" between the higher price and the extension of credit." Kilbourn v. Candy Ford-Mercury, Inc., 209 F.R.D. 121, 129 (W.D.Mich. 2002)(quoting Cornist supra). In this case, the advertised price of the vehicle was $13,495 and Diaz eventually purchased the car for a base price of $16,590.
Diaz argues that three pieces of evidence demonstrate that the increased cost above the advertised price was caused by his need to obtain sub-prime lending: 1) a statement in the advertisement that "price/payments [are] based on approval by primary lender" (Joint Ex. 1); 2) Paragon employee's undisputed statement that Diaz did not qualify for the advertised price because he did not secure financing through a primary lender (Diaz Dep., 37); and 3) the testimony of Paragon's general manager that the advertised prices are available to prime financing credit customers and cash customers. (Benstock Dep., 61, 64).
In Kilbourn a district court refused to grant summary judgment where a plaintiff purchased a car for more than its advertised price and she testified that two salesmen had told her that the increased cost was due to her "special financing needs" Kilbourn, 209 F.R.D. at 130. In that case summary judgment for the plaintiff was not appropriate because the salesmen denied having made such statements. However, in this case, the statements by a Paragon employee and the deposition testimony of Paragon's general manager are undisputed. Further, in Kilbourn the advertisement made no mention of an increased cost for non-prime creditors. In this case, the advertisement itself suggests that any cost over the advertised price is incident to obtaining credit.
Paragon presents no evidence to contradict Diaz's assertion that he paid a price higher than the one advertised. Instead Paragon argues, without pointing to any supporting caselaw, that the advertised price did not apply to Diaz because he knew he would require sub-prime lending and would not qualify for the prime lending required by the advertisement.*fn21 Paragon therefore contends that there was never a base advertised price and as a result no "increase" over this price. Rather, Paragon argues, the price paid by Diaz was simply a result of his bargaining with the salesman.
Paragon's argument is without merit. The advertisement's statement that the advertised price did not apply to sub-prime creditors establishes the base price for cash or prime purchasers. Furthermore, Paragon's general manager testified that the advertised price was the price actually charged to both cash and to prime lender consumers. Although the mere fact that a subprime credit consumer paid more than an advertised price would not in and of itself indicate that his price included a finance charge, Kilbourn, 209 F.R.D. at 128, 130 (holding that an increase over the advertised price charged to a credit customer was not a finance charge where car dealership had "sold cars to cash customers for more than the advertised price and ha[d] sold cars to credit customers for less than the advertised price" because of the relative negotiating skills of the parties and where the salesmen did not know if a customer was paying cash or credit until after the negotiation"), in this case the salesman knew that Diaz was a subprime credit customer when he established the price. Thus, any increase over the advertised was caused by the need to obtain credit and had to be disclosed under TILA. Diaz's undisputed evidence that the advertised price was available to cash and prime lender creditors but was not available to him because he required sub-prime lending establishes that he is entitled to summary judgment on his TILA claim.
In the present case defendant paid $16,590 instead of the advertised $13,495. Thus, he paid a finance charge of $3,095. Under 15 U.S.C. §1640 the plaintiff can recover twice the amount of any finance charge in connection with the transaction, not less than $100 nor greater than $1,000. Accordingly, plaintiff has recovered the maximum amount under TILA on his "advertised price increase claim" and I need not address his bank fee and warranty claims.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)
Plaintiff alleges that Paragon violated the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ("ECOA") by failing to give plaintiff notice that Paragon obtained credit in a different amount and at different terms than Diaz requested. Paragon contends that because plaintiff accepted its counteroffer to provide financing through a sub-prime lender, the decision did not constitute an adverse action as defined by the Federal Reserve Board regulations promulgated to implement ECOA, and accordingly did not require notification.
ECOA requires that "[w]ithin thirty days . . . after receipt of a completed application for credit, a creditor shall notify the applicant of its action on the application." 15 U.S.C. § 1691(d)(1).*fn22 Neither party disputes that Diaz completed a credit application,*fn23 which Paragon submitted to Dealer Track to allow sub-prime lenders to bid on the loan.*fn24 Nor does Paragon argue that it is not a creditor subject to ECOA's notification requirements.*fn25 Thus, the only remaining issues are whether Paragon's action with respect to Diaz's application required notice, and if so whether Paragon satisfied this requirement.
"[U]nder ECOA there are three distinct kinds of action a creditor might take, each triggering a notice requirement: an approval, a counteroffer, and an adverse action." Newton v. United Companies Financial Corp., 24 F.Supp.2d 444, 459 (E.D.Pa. 1998)(citing 12 CFR § 202.9(a)(1)(i)("A creditor shall notify an applicant of action . . . concerning the creditor's approval of, counteroffer to, or adverse action on the application.")
The regulations define a counteroffer as an offer to extend credit in a different amount, or on other terms than those requested.*fn26 12 U.S.C. § 202.2(c)(1)(i). The statute defines an adverse action as "a denial or revocation of credit, a change in the terms of an existing credit arrangement, or a refusal to grant credit in substantially the amount or on substantially the terms requested." 15 U.S.C. 1691(d)(6). Federal Regulation B narrows the definition of an adverse action to, "[a] refusal to grant credit in substantially the amount or on substantially the terms requested in an application unless the creditor makes a counteroffer (to grant credit in a different amount or on other terms) and the applicant uses or expressly accepts the credit offered." 12 C.F.R. § 202.2(c)(1)(i)(emphasis added). An adverse action does not include a "change in the terms of an account expressly agreed to by an applicant." 12 CFR § 202.2(c). Moreover, "where a creditor's action falls within the definitions of what is adverse action and what is not adverse action, the latter definition is controlling." Haynes v. Bank of Wedowee, 634 F.2d 266, 272 (5th Cir. 1981)(citing 12 C.F.R. § 202.2(c)(3)).
Plaintiff first argues that Paragon's decision to send his credit application to sub-prime lenders constituted an adverse action which required written notification including a statement of reasons pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1691(d)(2) and 12 C.F.R. § 202.9.
In the present case, plaintiff offered to pay the advertised price for the vehicle and completed a credit application, which Paragon submitted to sub-prime lenders via Dealer Track. When Paragon informed Diaz that a larger down payment was required to obtain financing, and before he signed the Bill of Sale and took possession of the vehicle, Diaz states that Paragon informed him that the advertised price was not available because Paragon "couldn't get primary lenders to finance [the] car . . . [and Paragon] had to go to a secondary lender." (Joint Exhibits, Ex. A, Diaz Dep. at 26-28, 37).*fn27 The parties do not dispute that this price constituted a counteroffer to Diaz's offer to purchase the vehicle at the advertised price, or that Diaz accepted the terms of the counteroffer when he signed the Retail Installment Contract. Thus, under the terms of the regulations, Paragon's decision to send the application to secondary lenders was not an adverse action, but rather a counteroffer. See Diaz v. Virginia Housing Development Authority, 117 F.Supp.2d 500, 506 (E.D.Va. 2000)("the regulations carve out an exception to the definition of 'adverse action' for a denial of credit coupled with a counteroffer that the applicant accepts.")
Plaintiff contends that because the statute and regulations are inconsistent, the regulations should not be given deference. However, the statute itself provides that "any requirement imposed under this subchapter or any provision thereof includes reference to the regulations of the Board," 15 U.S.C. § 1691a(g), and "grants the Board broad authority to 'provide for such adjustments and exceptions for any class of transactions, as in the judgment of the Board are necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes' of the Act." Virginia Housing, 117 F.Supp. 2d at 507(citing 15 U.S.C. § 1691b(a)(1)). Moreover, "[w]here Congress has expressly delegated to an agency the responsibility of articulating standards governing a particular area, the courts must accord the ensuing regulation substantial deference." Treadway, 362 F.3d at 976, n.3(citing Chevron U.S.A., Inc. V. Natural Resources Defense Council, 467 U.S. 837, 844 (1984)); Dorsey v. Citizens & Southern Financial Corporation, 678 F.2d 137 (11th Cir. 1982)(vacated and remanded on other grounds)("Federal Reserve Board regulations defining 'adverse action' were binding interpretations of provision of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act requiring creditors to provide statements of reasons to applicants 'against whom adverse action is taken.'"); See also Virginia Housing, 117 F.Supp. 2d at 507 ("the Board's Regulation B, which exempts from the definition of 'adverse action' under ECOA a creditor's denial of a credit application that is coupled with a counteroffer that the applicant accepts, is a reasonable and valid exercise of the Board's authority.") Although the statute does not provide an exception for accepted counteroffers from its definition of adverse action, 15 U.S.C. § 1691(d)(6), the statute is clear in delegating to the Federal Reserve Board the authority to promulgate regulations meant to implement the statute, and these regulations are explicit that accepted counteroffers shall not be considered "adverse actions". Accordingly, an accepted counteroffer does not constitute an adverse action triggering the requirement for a statement of reasons pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1691(d)(6) of the ECOA. Because the counteroffer extending credit to Diaz was accepted, Paragon's decision not to submit Diaz's credit application to the prime lenders did not constitute an adverse action requiring a statement of reasons pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1691(a)(2).*fn28
Paragon argues that because its submission of the application to secondary lenders was a counteroffer and not an adverse action it had no obligation to notify Diaz. In support, Paragon cites 12 CFR 202.9(a)(1)(iv) which provides that notification must be made within 90 days of a counteroffer "if the applicant does not expressly accept or use the credit offered." Paragon argues that since this notification provision is limited to counteroffers which are not expressly accepted or used it does not apply to counteroffers, like the one in this case, which have been specifically accepted.
If 12 CFR 202.9(a)(1)(iv) were the only notification provision Paragon would be correct. However, Paragon's argument ignores 12 CFR 202.9(a)(1)(i) which provides that a creditor must notify an applicant of an action taken within "30 days after receiving a completed application concerning the creditors . . . counteroffer to . . .the application." Thus, the fact that Diaz accepted the counteroffer merely removes Paragon from 202.9(a)(1)(iv) and brings its notification obligations under 202.9(a)(1)(i), thus obligating Paragon to give notice within 30 days. See Ricciardi v. Ameriquest Mortgage Co., 2006 WL 120234, *3 (3d Cir., January 17, 2006)(affirming district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of defendant where plaintiff signed an acknowledgment form that constituted "clear notice that the final loan terms were different than those originally requested"); Davis v. U.S. Bancorp, 383 F.3d 761, 767 (8th Cir. 2004)(holding that counteroffer made one week after completed application was within the thirty-day limit); Armstrong, 288 B.R. at 422 (failure to give notice of counteroffer constituted violation of ECOA); Newton, 24 F.Supp. at 461-462 ("the lender must notify the borrower of the making of a counteroffer, not just the ultimate approval or denial of that counteroffer").
Plaintiff argues that such notice must be in writing. Although ECOA explicitly provides that an adverse action notification requires a written statement of reasons why the applicant's offer was refused, or written notification of the applicant's right to such a statement, 15 U.S.C. § 1691(d)(2), 12 C.F.R. § 202(a)(9)(2),*fn29 the statute is silent as to the form of notification when the action taken is a counteroffer.*fn30
Under the doctrine of expressio unius est exclusio alterius, "when a statute limits a thing to be done in a particular mode, it includes the negative of any other mode." Virginia Housing, 117 F.Supp. 2d at 504 (citing National R.R. Passenger Corp v. National Ass'n of R.R. Passengers, 414 U.S. 453, 458 (1974); Bates v. United States, 522 U.S. 23 (1997)("[W]here Congress includes particular language in one section of a statute but omits it in another section of the same Act, it is generally presumed that Congress acts intentionally and purposely in the disparate inclusion or exclusion."). Requiring written notification of an accepted counteroffer as the plaintiff suggests would be contrary to this well-established rule of statutory interpretation and read into the regulation that which was clearly not contemplated by the Federal Reserve Board.*fn31
It is undisputed that the price at which Diaz offered to purchase the vehicle, based as it was on a cash purchase, was rejected once Paragon reviewed Diaz's completed credit application. Having submitted Diaz's application to a sub-prime lender, Paragon increased the required down payment, and set forth new credit terms, which Diaz was aware of before he signed the Bill of Sale and Retail Installment Contract. (Joint Exhibits, Ex. A, Diaz Dep. at 26-28, 37). Because the counteroffer was accepted by Diaz, and did not constitute an adverse action, no written notification was required pursuant to the statute or regulation. Furthermore, because Paragon, by way of the Retail Installment Contract and Bill of Sale, provided clear notice that the terms offered by Paragon differed from those that Diaz offered, and because Diaz was notified of this difference within the 30 days required by 12 C.F.R. 202.9(a)(1)(i), the plaintiff's ECOA claim fails as a matter of law. Accordingly, Diaz's motion for summary judgment on his ECOA claim is denied, and Paragon's cross-motion on plaintiff's ECOA claim is granted.
NY V&T § 417-a
Diaz moves for summary judgment on his claim that Paragon violated New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 417-a, which requires that the dealer notify a customer of a vehicle's use as a taxicab, rental vehicle, police vehicle or repurchased vehicle. Specifically, the statute provides that
Upon sale or transfer of title by a dealer of any second-hand passenger motor vehicle, the dealer shall execute and deliver to the buyer an instrument in writing in a form prescribed by the commissioner which shall set forth the nature of the principal prior use of such vehicle when the dealer knows or has reason to know that such use was as a taxicab, rental vehicle, police vehicle . . .
NY V&T § 417-a(1)(a).
The Regulations of the Commissioner provide that
This statement shall be conspicuously printed, typed or stamped on the dealer's contract of sale, and the appropriate line checked, and given to the purchaser before the purchaser signs it.
15 NYCRR § 78.13(g)(1).*fn32
The plaintiff argues that because "Diaz's purchase of the car was spread out over several days and is memorialized in at least three documents which can arguably be considered the 'contract of sale,'" he should be granted summary judgment because the required notice was provided only in the last of the three documents, after Diaz had already committed to purchasing the vehicle. Paragon argues that because the final bill of sale included the required notice, summary judgment should be granted in its favor.
The relevant question is thus which of the documents presented by Paragon to Diaz should be considered the "contract of sale" and accordingly, at what point Paragon was obligated to notify Diaz of the vehicle's prior use. The rules of statutory construction require that when the language of a statute or regulation is clear, the Court must give effect to the plain and ordinary meaning of the words used therein. Green v. State of New York Dept. of Correctional Services, 2006 WL 531128, *2 (N.Y.Sup.Ct. 2006)(citing N.Y. Statutes, § 94; People v. Munoz, 615 N.Y.S.2d 730 (N.Y. App.Div. 2nd Dept. 1994) ). However, when aid to construction of the meaning of words or phrases as used in a statute or regulation is available, there is no rule of law which forbids their use, no matter how clear the words may appear on initial examination. See, Raritan Development Corp. v. Silva, 91 N.Y.2d 98 (1997). "Moreover, the 'plain meaning rule' will not apply where a reading gives use to absurd or mischievous consequences or thwart a manifest purpose." People v. Petikas, WL 3271794, *3-4 (N.Y. Dist.Ct. 2005). "In such cases, contextual approach directs that courts will construe the details of a statute in conformity with its denominating general purpose and will read a text in light of context and will interpret the text so far as the meaning of the words fairly permit as to carry out in particular cases the generally expressed legislative policy." Id. (citing McKinney's Con. Laws of New York, Book 1, Statutes § 111; see also, In re William W., 188 Misc.2d 630, 729 N.Y.S.2d 259 [2001]).
In the present case, the regulations do not define the term "contract of sale." Nor can the term be said to have one ordinary meaning. Accordingly, a court next looks to the purpose of the regulations and to the context in which the term is used. The regulations are in place to prevent consumers from even committing to the purchase of a used vehicle without the knowledge of its prior use. This is evidenced by the provision concerning the oral sale of vehicles which provides that "if a dealer uses an oral contract for the purchase of a secondhand motor vehicle, he shall deliver to the purchaser a written statement concerning the prior use of the motor vehicle before accepting payment of a deposit from a purchaser." 15 NYCRR §78.13(g)(1)(emphasis added). In fact, there would seemingly be little utility to a rule which required dealers to disclose the origin of a resale vehicle only after the buyer had committed himself, via deposit, or otherwise, to its purchase. In the present case, Diaz committed a total of $6,000 and bound himself to purchase the vehicle under the proscribed credit terms, by signing the RISC, before learning that the car was used as a rental vehicle. Considering the purpose and context of the regulation a document which commits the buyer's money and binds him to purchase a vehicle must be considered a "contract of sale" which accordingly, must contain any mandated disclosure of a vehicle's prior use.
Moreover, even if the disclosure did not necessarily need to be contained in the RISC, the statute explicitly requires that the "dealer shall execute and deliver" the written disclosure, and it is undisputed that the bill of sale containing the required disclosure was signed by Diaz, but contained no signature line for a Paragon representative and was not signed by any such representative. Accordingly, Paragon did not meet the requirements of the traffic law and summary judgment is granted to Diaz.
Paragon's Motion for Summary Judgment against Plaintiff's Used Car Lemon Law and Breach of Express and Implied Warranty Claims Pursuant to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act Paragon moves for summary judgment on plaintiff's allegations that (1) the failure of Paragon, or its agents to repair those defects which have substantially impaired the use of the vehicle, constitute violations of New York's Used Car Lemon Law, NY General Business Law § 198-b,*fn33 and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (the "MMWA"), 15 U.S.C. § 2310*fn34 and (2) that he is entitled to revocation of acceptance, pursuant to the MMWA. Paragon argues that (1) before he may bring suit on these claims plaintiff is obligated to first pursue the informal dispute settlement procedure as provided by Paragon in the limited warranty pursuant to NY GBL § 198-b(f); (2) the vehicle's defects are not covered parts under the Lemon Law or the warranty; and (4) that the defects did not substantially impair the vehicle, as required under the Lemon Law. Diaz does not dispute that he received a written warranty from Paragon that complied with New York's Lemon Law, (Plaintiff's Complaint, ¶ 61), but argues that
(1) because he did not sign the Limited Warranty, he did not agree to submit to Paragon's informal dispute settlement procedure pursuant to New York's Used Car Lemon Law or the MMWA;
(2) Paragon has not presented any proof that Diaz was ever provided with the warranty and its dispute resolution clause; and
(3) questions of fact exist with respect to whether the defects substantially impaired the vehicle which preclude summary judgment.
To "encourage warrantors to establish procedures whereby consumer disputes are fairly and expeditiously settled through informal dispute settlement mechanisms," 15 U.S.C. § 2310(a)(1), the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act ("MMWA") provides that if a warrantor has established such a procedure, and incorporates a requirement to resort to it in a written warranty, the MMWA "permits warrantors to require consumers to resort to its dispute settlement mechanism before suing it under the Act." Motor Vehicle Mfrs. Ass'n of U.S., Inc. v. Abrams, 899 F.2d 1315, 1317 (2d Cir. 1990)(citing 15 U.S.C. § 2310(a)(3)).*fn35
Similarly, New York's Used Car Lemon Law provides that if a dealer has established or participates in an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with the Federal Trade Commission's regulations promulgated to implement the MMWA's informal dispute settlement mechanism,*fn36 a consumer must first resort to such procedure before pursuing a civil action for a refund or replacement pursuant to its Lemon Law claim. N.Y. General Business Law § 198-b(f)(1). Although the consumer is not bound by the result, the use of the informal dispute settlement procedure is a condition precedent to a civil cause of action under New York's Lemon Laws. General Motors Corp. v. Abrams, 897 F.2d 34, 40-41 (2d Cir. 1990); Ho Jo Contracting Co., Inc. v. Schultz Ford, Inc., 539 N.Y.S.2d 49, 50 (N.Y. App.Div. 2d Dept. 1989); Mountcastle v. Volvoville, USA, Inc. et al., 494 N.Y.S.2d 792, 794 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1985); Smith v. Chrysler Motors Corp., 1990 WL 65700, *2 (E.D.Pa. 1990)(observing that the "MMWA and the Lemon Law is no different from numerous statutes that mandate compliance with administrative procedures prior to pursuing a remedy in federal court" such as Title VII.)
Plaintiff argues that "Paragon cannot rely on the arbitration provision found in the warranty since it is not signed by Diaz and, as such, cannot form the basis of any 'agreement' to arbitrate." (Pl. Rep. Mem., 20).*fn37 However, plaintiff cites no case law or statutory section, nor did research produce any support for the proposition that a non-binding informal dispute resolution procedure is only a prerequisite to litigation when the plaintiff has signed the agreement. The minimally burdensome prerequisite of dispute resolution is provided free to the plaintiff, is not binding, and is completed in no more than forty days. Accordingly, the formality of a signature is not necessary in order to obligate a consumer to participate. In fact, in some circumstances dispute resolution can be conducted without the consent of the plaintiff so long as it is non-binding. Knox v. Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., 899 F.Supp. 1529, 1538-1539 (N.D.W.Va.,1995)(finding that "non-exclusive arbitration without an individual employee's consent" was constitutional where "tension between collective representation and an employee's statutory rights are properly balanced," and where plaintiff would be "able to pursue her civil action if she is unsatisfied with the arbitration.") Accordingly, the fact that plaintiff did not sign the warranty containing the non-binding dispute provision does not free plaintiff from the obligation to exhaust those remedies before bringing suit.
The plaintiff further argues that even if Diaz had signed the warranty agreement and its "arbitration clause", Paragon, as movant, bears the burden of establishing that its dispute settlement procedure complies with the applicable federal regulations. (Plaintiff's Reply Mem. at 21).*fn38 There are limited circumstances where a plaintiff may bring suit without exhausting the dispute resolution mechanisms provided for in a warranty, namely, where the dealer's informal dispute settlement procedure clearly does not comply with the statute. See Verdier v. Porsche Cars North America, Inc., 680 N.Y.S.2d 596, 597 (N.Y. App.Div. 2d Dept. 1998). However, in order to avoid the informal dispute resolution the plaintiff, not defendant, must show that the dealer's resolution provision does not comply with the statute. Id. (holding that summary judgment could not be granted for the defendant where the plaintiff showed that the dispute resolution provision did not comply with the statutory requirements because it appeared to be optional rather than mandatory). In this case, the warranty's informal dispute resolution settlement procedure mandates that: the Dealer participates in an informal dispute settlement procedure to arbitrate any dispute which may arise under Section 198-b of the New York General Business Law (the "Act" or the "Used Car Lemon Law") relating to the warranty. . . The buyer must resort to this settlement procedure or such alternate New York State arbitration procedure under the Act before pursuing any other rights or remedies available under the Act. The buyer need not resort to the settlement procedure if he/she seeks to pursue rights and remedies not created by the Used Car Lemon Law.
Thus, the procedure is clearly a prerequisite to any Lemon Law claim. Nor has plaintiff pointed to any other way in which the procedure does not comply with the statutory requirements. Accordingly, plaintiff's Lemon Law claim is dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. However, the dispute resolution provision is optional as to any MMWA claim, and accordingly plaintiff need not exhaust these procedures prior to bringing a claim under the MMWA. Accordingly, the motion for summary judgment on the MMWA claim must be addressed on the merits.
Breach of Express Warranty under the MMWA
"[T]he MMWA makes a warrantor directly liable to a consumer for breach of a written warranty. . . . [A] buyer may obtain a refund of the purchase price from a manufacturer for breach of an express warranty." Shuldman v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., 768 N.Y.S.2d 214, 216 (N.Y. App.Div. 2d Dept. 2003). The MMWA, however, creates no additional bases for liability, but allows a consumer to recover damages under existing state law, and attorneys fees. Walsh v. Ford Motor Co., 807 F.2d 1000, 1012 (D.C. Cir. 1986).
The express warranty provided by Paragon provides that for 90 days or 4,000 miles, whichever comes first, Paragon or its agent "will repair or, at the election of the dealer, reimburse the buyer for the reasonable cost of repairing the failure of a covered part." (Def. Ex. 25.) It is undisputed that Paragon made all repairs to the vehicle during the limited warranty period at no cost to Diaz, regardless of whether the defective part was covered under the Used Car Lemon Law or the Warranty. Accordingly, it is undisputed that Paragon performed its duties under its express warranty. Therefore, Paragon's motion for summary judgment with respect to Plaintiff's claim that Paragon violated its express warranty pursuant to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is granted.
Breach of Implied Warranty under the MMWA
"Under the MMWA, a consumer who is damaged by a supplier's failure to comply with an implied warranty may file a claim in federal court." 15 U.S.C. § 2310(d). Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 2301(7), the MMWA defines "implied warranty" as "an implied warranty arising under state lawA in connection with the sale by a supplier of a consumer product." Haugland v. Winnebago Industries, 327 F.Supp.2d 1092, 1096 (D.Ariz.,2004). Thus, "[t]he Magnuson-Moss Act is not responsible for creating any new implied warranties for sales of goods. When referring to an implied warranty, the act means 'an implied warranty arising under State law ... in connection with the sale by a supplier of a consumer product.' [15 U.S.C.] § 2301(7)." Murungi v. Mercedes Benz Credit Corp., 192 F.Supp.2d 71, 79 (W.D.N.Y. 2001)(citations omitted); See also, Shuldman, 768 N.Y.S.2d at 216.
Under New York law, the relevant implied warranty of merchantability is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code. Cannon v. Newmar Corp., 287 F.Supp. 222 (W.D.N.Y. 2003). N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-314 (McKinney 2003) provides that "a warranty that the goods shall be merchantable is implied in a contract for their sale if the seller is a merchant with respect to goods of that kind." N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-314(1). Merchantable goods are those that "pass without objection in the trade under the contract description . . . are of fair or average quality within the description; and . . . are fit for the ordinary purpose for which they are used" Id.
Under New York law, "at a bare minimum the ordinary purpose for which a used car is to be used should be such as to enable the purchaser to transport herself upon the streets and highways of this state or any other in a reasonably safe manner." McCormack v. Lynn Imports, Inc., 452 N.Y.S.2d 821,824 (N.Y.Dist.Ct. 1982). Rather than guaranteeing performance without malfunction during the term of the warranty, a warranty anticipates that failures will occur and that they will be corrected. Hughes v. Hertz Corp., 670 So.2d 882, 886 (Ala. 1995)(citation omitted)). "Whereas the buyer bears the burden of proving a substantial impairment of value under the [UCC], the dealer bears the burden of negating substantial impairment as an affirmative defense under the Lemon Law." Williams v. Planet Motor Car, Inc., 738 N.Y.S.2d 170, 176 (2001)(citing Jandreau v. La Vigne, 566 N.Y.S.2d 683 (N.Y. App.Div. 3d Dept. 1991)).
Paragon argues that there is no issue of material fact with respect to whether the vehicle enabled Diaz "to transport [himself] upon the streets and highways of this state or any other in a reasonably safe manner." McCormack, 452 N.Y.S.2d at 824. As evidence, Paragon submits the vehicle's repair records, that reflect three separate repairs to the anti-lock brake sensors during the limited warranty period, as well Diaz's statements that there were no problems with the brakes from June 2003 until May 2004. (Diaz Dep., 78.)
However, Diaz's deposition testimony states that shortly after he purchased the car the vehicle's brakes were not responding, (Diaz Dep., 66-67) and that defect to the brake sensor caused him to fear for his and his family's safety, (Diaz Dep., 88). Because defective brakes would prevent a consumer from using a vehicle in a reasonably safe manner, see Natale v. Martin Volkswagen, Inc., 402 N.Y.S.2d 156, 159 (N.Y.City Ct. 1978), Diaz's statement that the brakes did not work raises a question of fact that preclude summary judgment.
Revocation of Acceptance under the MMWA*fn39
Under New York law, a purchaser may revoke his acceptance of goods "whose non-conformity substantially impairs value to him."*fn40 Cannon v. Newmar Corp., 287 F.Supp.2d 222, 227 (W.D.N.Y. 2003)(citing N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-608 (McKinney 2003)). To do so, "the purchaser must establish that he accepted the goods (1) with the reasonable assumption that the non-conformity would be cured and it was not seasonably cured; or (2) without knowing of the non-conformity if the acceptance was induced by difficulty of discovery or by the assurances of the seller." Id. "The purchaser's revocation of acceptance is not final until he notifies the seller and such 'revocation must occur within a reasonable time after the [purchaser] discovers or should have discovered the ground for it and before any substantial changes in condition of the goods which is not caused by their own defects.'" Id.(citing N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-608(2)); See also Williams v. Planet Motor Car, Inc., 738 N.Y.S.2d 170, 176 (2001)("Under [UCC § 2-608(1)(a)(b);(2)], there are additional requirements for revocation of acceptance, including explanation for the buyer's acceptance and a time limit on revocation.") Diaz acquired the car on May 13. According to his deposition testimony, in June 2003, only several weeks later, Diaz brought the car back to the dealership and informed Paragon that he wished to return the car to it. Accordingly, Paragon cannot show that there is no material disputed fact as to whether Diaz revoked his acceptance of the car, and summary judgment is not appropriate on this claim. Deceptive Sales Practices Pursuant to NY GBL § 349
Paragon moves for summary judgment on plaintiff's claim that defendant's violations of the Truth in Lending Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act and New York Vehicle & Traffic § 417-a constituted deceptive or unfair practices under NY General Business Law § 349. Pursuant to the statute, a plaintiff must prove that (1) the challenged act or practice was consumer-oriented; (2) the act was misleading in a material way; and (3) the plaintiff suffered injury as a result of the deceptive act. Oswego, 85 N.Y.2d at 25.
"Consumer-oriented conduct does not require a repetition or pattern of deceptive behavior . . . but instead must demonstrate that the acts or practices have a broader impact on consumers at large." Oswego, 85 N.Y.2d at 25. Private contract disputes, unique to the parties, or "single shot transactions" would not fall within the ambit of the statute. Id. at 26(citing Genesco Entertainment v. Koch et al., 593 F.Supp.743, 752 (S.D.N.Y. 1984)). Recognizing "the potential for a tidal wave of litigation against businesses," the court in Oswego announced an objective definition of deceptive practices as representations or omissions "likely to mislead a reasonable consumer acting reasonably under the circumstances." Id. at 26. "A deceptive practice, however, need not reach the level of common-law fraud to be actionable under section 349." Stutman v. Chemical Bank, 95 N.Y.2d 24, 29 (N.Y. 2000); see also Vaughn v. Consumer Home Mortgage, Inc., 2003 WL 21241669, *3 (E.D.N.Y. 2003)("In essence, this claim is like one of fraud, but without the need for intent or reasonable reliance. . . but, unlike [a claim] for fraud, requires that the deceptive practice have an impact on the public at large.") Furthermore, "a plaintiff seeking compensatory damages must show that the "deceptive act or practice . . . caused actual, although not necessarily pecuniary, harm." Oswego, 85 N.Y.2d at 26.
Deceptive Sales Practice Under ECOA Where a creditor's action does not violate ECOA it is not misleading in a material way for purposes of a deceptive sales practices claim. McKinney's General Business Law § 349 (d) ("In any such action it shall be a complete defense that the act or practice is, or if in interstate commerce would be, subject to and complies with the rules and regulations of, and the statutes administered by, the federal trade commission or any official department, division, commission or agency of the United States as such rules, regulations or statutes are interpreted by the federal trade commission or such department, division, commission or agency or the federal courts."); Kramer v. Marine Midland Bank, 559 F. Supp. 273, 294 (S.D.N.Y. 1983)("Having found for defendant on each of the federal claims predicated on such acts . . . no recovery may be had under the GBL"); Goldberg v. Manhattan Ford Lincoln-Mercury, Inc., 129 Misc. 2d 123, 125 (N.Y.Sup.Ct. 1985).
Thus, because Paragon's summary judgment motion on Diaz's ECOA claim is granted, Paragon's motion for summary judgment with respect to plaintiff's General Business Law § 349 claim must also granted, and plaintiff's claim that Paragon violated NY GBL § 349 is dismissed.
Deceptive Sales Practice Under TILA and NY V&T § 417-a
Paragon also moves for summary judgment as to Diaz's deceptive sales practices claims under TILA and NY V&T § 417-a. In order to prove a claim for deceptive sales practices the plaintiff must show (1) the challenged act or practice was consumer-oriented; (2) the act was misleading in a material way; and (3) the plaintiff suffered injury as a result of the deceptive act. Oswego Laborers' Local 214 Pension Fund v. Marine Midland Bank, 85 N.Y.2d 20, 25 (1995).
As discussed above, where a dealer has not violated the underlying federal claim, the dealer has not committed a deceptive sales practice because such practice is not materially misleading. Thus, where as here, the dealer has violated the underlying federal laws of TILA and NY V&T § 417-a, a reasonable jury could find that the dealer engaged in a materially misleading act.
Paragon argues however, that Diaz has failed to allege that the challenged practice was consumer oriented or that he suffered injury as a result of the deceptive act. However, where as here, the record demonstrates that the transactions involved standard documents routinely presented to similar customers, the plaintiff has made a threshold showing that the practice was consumer oriented. Teller v. Bill Hayes, Ltd., 213 A.D.2d 141, 147 -148 (N.Y. App.Div. 2d Dept. 1995)("plaintiffs made the threshold showing of a consumer-oriented practice that "potentially affect[ed] similarly situated consumers" where "[t]he record indicate[d] that defendant Bank dealt with plaintiffs' representative as any customer entering the bank to open a savings account, furnishing the [plaintiffs' representative] with standard documents presented to customers upon the opening of accounts")(citations omitted). Moreover, plaintiff claims that he paid at least $3,000 more for the vehicle than he would have had it not been for the defendant's deceptive sales practices,*fn41 thus having made a threshold showing that he was inured by reason of defendant's deceptive sales practice. Accordingly, Paragon's motion for summary judgment on the deceptive sales practices claim with respect to TILA and §417-a claims is denied. Americredit's Liability Pursuant to 16 C.F.R. § 433.2
Defendant Americredit moves for summary judgment on plaintiff's claims pursuant to 16 C.F.R. § 433.2, the so-called Holder Rule, that requires all consumer installment contracts to contain the following provision:
16 C.F.R. § 433.2. The Rule was promulgated in order to cure business practices that "separated the buyer's duty to pay for goods or services from the seller's reciprocal duty to perform as promised . . . [and where] [c]reditors dunned consumers and collected debts despite the consumers' claims and defenses against the sellers." Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"), 57 Fed. Reg. 28814, 128815.
Under the Holder Rule any claim which could be asserted against Paragon may be asserted against Americredit. Because, as explained above, Diaz's ECOA, Magnuson-Moss Express Warranty, New York Lemon Law, and Deceptive Sales Practice with respect to ECOA claims fail, his claims against Americredit pursuant to these statutes must fail as well. Similarly, because Paragon's motion for summary judgment with respect to plaintiff's NY V&T § 417-a, MMWA (Breach of Implied Warranty and Revocation of Acceptance) and New York Deceptive Sales Practice claims with respect to TILA and § 417-a is denied, Americredit's motion for summary judgment with respect to those claims is also denied.
TILA Claims
Under the Truth in Lending Act, a creditor refers only to a person who both (1) regularly extends, whether in connection with loans, sales of property or services, or otherwise, consumer credit which is payable by agreement in more than four installments or for which the payment of a finance charge is or may be required, and (2) is the person to whom the debt arising from the consumer credit transaction is initially payable on the face of the evidence of indebtedness or, if there is no such evidence of indebtedness, by agreement.
15 U.S.C.A. § 1602(f).
TILA's limited assignee liability is at odds with the more broadly reaching liability under the Holder Rule. Giving full effect to the language of the Holder Rule would negate the protections that TILA provides for the assignee since the FTC requires that the Holder Rule provision be inserted in all consumer credit contracts. Every Circuit to address the issue has found that the specific provisions of TILA override the more general provisions of the Holder Rule, reasoning that allowing TILA to override the Holder Rule does not totally negate the applicability of the Holder Rule, which would still apply in some situations, and that the Holder Rule, "even though contained within the contract, was not the subject of bargaining between the parties, and indeed could not have been. It is part of the contract by force of law, and it must be read in light of other laws that modify its reach." Taylor v. Quality Hyundai Inc., 150 F.3d 689, 692-94 (7th Cir. 1998); Ramadan v. Chase Manhattan Corp., 229 F.3d 194 (3d Cir. 2000); Green v. Levis Motors, Inc., 179 F.3d 286, 296 (5th Cir. 1999); Ellis v. General Motors Acceptance Corp., 160 F.3d 703, 708-09 (11th Cir. 1998). Because I am persuaded by the uniform opinions of those Circuits to address this issue, Americredit's motion for summary judgment as to its liability for violations allegedly committed by Paragon is granted.
For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff's Rule 56(b) motions for summary judgment on liability with respect to his TILA and NY V&T § 417-a claims are granted. Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment as to his ECOA claim is denied. Paragon's motions for summary judgment are granted with respect to plaintiff's claims for violations of ECOA, Used Car Lemon Law, Breach of Express Warranty pursuant to the MMWA, and the New York Deceptive Sales Practice statute to the extent that claim is based on violations of ECOA. Paragon's motions for summary judgment are denied as to plaintiff's claims for violations of Breach of Implied Warranty and Revocation of Acceptance pursuant to the MMWA, and the New York Deceptive Sales Practice statute to the extent that claim is based on violations of TILA and NY V&T § 417-a. Americredit's motions for summary judgment are granted with respect to plaintiff's claims for violations of TILA, ECOA, Used Car Lemon Law, Breach of Express Warranty pursuant to MMWA, and the New York Deceptive Sales Practice statute to the extent premised on violations of ECOA. Americredit's motions for summary judgement are denied with respect to plaintiff's claims for violations of NY V&T § 417-a, Breach of Implied Warranty and Revocation of Acceptance pursuant to MMWA and the New York Deceptive Sales Practice statute to the extent these violations are premised on violations of TILA and § 417-a.
The Clerk is directed to furnish a filed copy of the within to all parties and to the magistrate judge.
Charles P. Sifton (electronically signed) United States District Judge
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text:
|This is a discussion on $2 NLHE 6-max: 52s from the SB within the online poker forums, in the Cash Game Hand Analysis section; Alright i'm posting this because ive been really good at eliminating marginal hands from the blinds but this one got through. So i'm posting this
$2 NLHE 6-max: 52s from the SB
Alright i'm posting this because ive been really good at eliminating marginal hands from the blinds but this one got through. So i'm posting this as a punishment to myself
PokerStars - $0.02 NL (6 max) - Holdem - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4
BTN: $2.04 (VPIP: 50.00, PFR: 50.00, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 2)
Hero (SB): $5.66
BB: $1.01 (VPIP: 11.61, PFR: 11.04, 3Bet Preflop: 3.17, Hands: 160)
UTG: $3.47 (VPIP: 56.25, PFR: 18.75, 3Bet Preflop: 9.09, Hands: 16)
CO: $2.00 (VPIP: 15.22, PFR: 15.56, 3Bet Preflop: 0.00, Hands: 47)
Hero posts SB $0.01, BB posts BB $0.02
Pre Flop: (pot: $0.03) Hero has 2♣ 5♣
UTG calls $0.02, fold, BTN raises to $0.06, Hero calls $0.05, fold, UTG calls $0.04
Flop: ($0.20, 3 players) 9♣ Q♣ 6♠
Hero bets $0.14, UTG raises to $0.28, fold, Hero calls $0.14
Turn: ($0.76, 2 players) 4♥
Hero checks, UTG bets $0.72, Hero calls $0.72
River: ($2.20, 2 players) Q♥
Hero checks, UTG checks
I felt I should've bet the river, may have got the fold!!! ... Everything is wrong about this hand... haha even my call on the turn.
Anyways hard to believe after 2500 hands i'm up $14 with plays like this lolz
Why are you flatting a full pot turn bet, oop, with reverse implied odds?
like I said i'm not proud.... but I was praying for a club, cuz ppl would prolly think no one would be crazy enough to chase the flush... lol
Reverse implied odds headsup? On the flop I agree possibly.
But his turn bet indicates he's trying to protect his hand and probably looking at it now I think he has some type of set or two pair. I think if I got the flush I was getting paid.
But its not recommended this hand I hate it but I think it would've worked if club came. But yes so wrong haha

subset: commoncrawl


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There is a chance, although a small chance, that Matt Lindland will lose to Spencer Pratt's homeboy this weekend, so let's take a little trip down memory lane. Before coming to MMA, Lindland competed extensively in Greco-Roman wrestling. He won ... Read More »
Tag Archives: Matt LIndlandFeed Subscription
The MMA Hour with guests Kevin Casey, Spencer Pratt, & Alistair Overeem *VIDEO*
Here is one of the most entertaining hour-and-a-halves of MMA talk I've seen in some time. Everyone's favorite interviewer, Ariel Helwanni talks with guests "King" Kevin Casey, Spencer Pratt, and Alistair Overeem on this week's edition of "The MMA Hour." ... Read More »
Kevin Casey to face Matt Lindland in Strikeforce Challengers main event May 21 in Portland
Unbeaten "Relentless'' Roger Bowling To Make STRIKEFORCE Debut Opposite Bobby Voelker NEW YORK (April 22, 2010) – Former Rickson Gracie protégé and highly confident middleweight (185 pounds) "King" Kevin Casey (3-1) of Los Angeles will face the toughest test of his ... Read More »
Matt Lindland returns to the cage in Strikeforce Challengers main event May 21
Tyron Woodley To Battle Nathan Coy, Kerry Vera To Square Off With Julianna Pena Tickets for STRIKEFORCE Challengers Event Go On Sale Friday, April 16; Pre-Sale Begins Wednesday, April 14, via "STRIKEFORCE Insider" PORTLAND (April 12, 2010) –Middleweight (185 pounds) ... Read More »
"Strikeforce: Evolution" photo gallery
Scott Smith rallies from brink of defeat – again – to shock Cung Le; Gilbert Melendez regains Strikeforce title with win over Josh Thomson
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Dec. 20, 2009) – No stranger to stirring comeback victories, Scott "Hands Of Steel" Smith rallied to knock out Cung Le, Gilbert Melendez regained the STRIKEFORCE lightweight world title in perhaps the Fight of the Year, and ... Read More »
"Strikeforce: Evolution" recap: Melendez reclaims lightweight title, Smith stuns Le, and "King Mo" KO's Whitehead
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez are no strangers to each other or five round wars. Another five round battle was in the cards for tonight's "Strikeforce: Evolution" lightweight title bout, with both fighters throwing everything but ... Read More »
"Strikeforce: Evolution" results and play-by-play commentary
SAN JOSE – This is it folks! Tonight's the night for "Strikeforce: Evolution." It is the promotion's final card for 2009, and on paper at least, it may be their best of the year. The only down side is we're ... Read More »
ProMMA.info's "Strikeforce: Evolution" staff picks
"Strikeforce: Evolution" takes place tonight, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The main televised portion of this card is stacked with stars. It is a card that any true MMA fan should be thrilled ... Read More »
"Strikeforce: Evolution" weigh-in results
SAN JOSE – The "Strikeforce: Evolution" weigh-ins took place Friday night, Dec. 18, in San Jose, Calif. The fights take place Saturday night, Dec. 19, at the HP Pavilion. The four main card bouts headed up by Cung Le vs. ... Read More »
Six questions with Matt Lindland who faces Strikeforce newcomer "Jacare" Souza on Dec. 19, 2009, Showtime card
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2009) – Former Olympic wrestling medalist Matt "The Law" Lindland, who recently took a stab at the world of politics, answered Six Questions recently posed to him regarding his highly-anticipated return to mixed martial arts ... Read More »
Showtime Sports to offer popular online experience Strikeforce: All Access
NEW YORK (Dec. 17, 2009)- SHOWTIME Sports will once again offer Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans around the world STRIKEFORCE: All Access, the cutting edge online interactive experience, live on Saturday, Dec. 19, for STRIKEFORCE: "Evolution" from HP Pavilion in ... Read More »
"Strikeforce: Evolution" fight card preview and betting odds
This Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, Strikeforce proves just how much they have grown as an organization with their "Evolution" card, taking place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. If you are planning to attend the event, you can ... Read More »


text: -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Giuseppe_Ghib=F2_ wrote: | Sound Apple has recently changed the way for detecting the QuickTime plugin | at http://www.apple.com/trailers. Right now it asks for a "Get the | latest QuickTime.". | | Maybe the QuickTime signature of mplayerplug-in should be upgraded from | "QuickTime Plug-in 6.0 / 7" | to the same one as of QuickTime 7.4.5 (whatever it is). WDYT? | | Bye | Giuseppe. Can you give me an exact failure page? I tested the link above with gecko-mediaplayer, which uses the same signature as mplayerplug-in and that site seems to work for me. Any reason why you are still shipping mplayerplug-in over gecko-mediaplayer? Kevin - -- Get my public GnuPG key from http://pgp.mit.edu:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x7D0BD5D1 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Fedora - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFIKgC36w2kMH0L1dERAlq4AKCJWr/aGQZK3X28gRH1qcME/RqTYACggl1q vVuuYnXfeQa42r9CkCibX7Q= =bhpO -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----


text:
N. prodotti: 0
Totale ordine: € 0,00
FASCICOLI E ARTICOLI I PIÙ LETTI eTOC
Indexed/Abstracted in: Chemical Abstracts, CINAHL, Current Contents/Clinical Medicine, EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Citation Index Expanded (SciSearch), Scopus
Impact Factor 1,111
Periodicità: Mensile
Online ISSN 1827-1928
Walsh J. 1, Climstein M. 2, Heazlewood I. T. 3, Kettunen J. 4, 5, Burke S. 6, Debeliso M. 7, Adams K. J. 8
1 Independent researcher, Sydney, Australia;
2 Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia;
3 Allied Health and Exercise and Sport Science School of Environmental and Life Sciences Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia;
4 Medical Sciences, Arcada University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland;
5 Research Consult in ORTON Orthopaedic Hospital, ORTON Foundation, Helsinki, Finland;
6 School of Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Australia;
7 Department of Physical Education and Human Performance, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT, USA;
8 Kinesiology Department, California State University Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA, USA
Aim: Whilst there is growing evidence that physical activity across the lifespan is beneficial for improved health, there are many physiological changes involved with the aging process and subsequently the potential for reduced indices of health. The experimental aim was to gain improved understanding of the nexus between health, physical activity and aging by testing the hypothesis that prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) in the World Masters Games swimming cohort would be less than adult national populations.
Methods: Body mass index (BMI) of 527 (49.7% male, 50.3% female) World Masters Games (WMG) swimmers aged 25-91 yrs (mean 54.3, standard deviation ±12.2) was investigated using a survey tool.
Results: Analysis demonstrated significantly (χ2=44.9, P<0.001) reduced obesity (9% vs. 21%) when compared to the adult (aged ≥18years) Australian as well as other appropriate national populations. Investigation revealed, amongst other findings, that in line with trends shown in the adult Australian population, WMG male swimmers had a significantly higher BMI (mean 25.9 vs. 24.6) than their female counterparts (Z=-5.8, P<0.001).
Conclusion: Evidence of improved classification in one index of health (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) for WMG swimmers raised the possibility of improved classification due to adherence to sport or that reduced BMI was advantageous, contributing to this cohort competing at the WMG. This proportionately under-investigated population having reduced obesity over national populations was of particular interest given the obesity epidemic, the multi-faceted approaches taken globally in an attempt to halt this epidemic and a usual tendency for increased incidence of obesity with age.
lingua: Inglese


text:
Skip to comments.It's Official: Campaign Finance Law Helps Republicans
Posted on 04/04/2003 6:54:47 AM PST by StopDemocratsDotComEdited on 04/22/2004 11:48:37 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire says the new "campaign-finance law boosts Republicans' money edge. In first-quarter reports due soon at the Federal Election Commission, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is expected to show $7 million -- its biggest take of regulated 'hard money' for House candidates ever. But Republicans' House committee has raised $22 million. Democrats got more from unregulated 'soft money,' now banned."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
. . . but not necessarily for the reasons adduced in court.
Republicans have always had a distinct advantage among the $100 donors, the small businessmen, professionals, and retired folks.
The Democrats have long depended on the guilt-wracked limousine liberals to fork over the $10,000 and $100,000 donations. Fewer but larger contributions kept them in power for decades after they should have been marginalized.
Now that hard money rules the day, the armies of 'little people' who fear big government and put their money where their mouth is will help the Republicans bury the Democrats for generations to come.
Yes, the Bill is Unconstituional. Clearly. However, does the Veto of a Bill make the underlying Unconstitutional ISSUE die?
The Obvious answer is No.
That is what this has always been about. The Dumbocrats thought they could continue to Browbeat the political right, knowing that this issue would never become law.
They would continue to rake in obscene amounts of soft money, and yell about the other side getting hard money, which at least comes from Individuals, knowing the Public won't make the distinction.
Then The media Jumped in as well, for all the onbvious reasons (favortism of the Left, increased media Power...etc)
At the End of the Day, all a Veto does is keep this issue alive.
Signing the Bill on the other hand, does many things.
It send the Issue Before SCOTUS where it will be declared UNCONSTITUTIONAL, killing it.
And along the way, we pick up an enormous cash advantage, helping to cement our position, and pick up ground against the left.
Get it?
Winning all the battles, and the war by feigning defeat, is Chess style strategy.
It's time we left the Checkers for the other side.
Considering it was common knowledge that (r)s hold a Large hard money advantage over (d)s....can you imagine the absolute sinking dread they felt, when W put pen to paper, on that parchment?
Think about that.Revel in it.
But it costs a lot of money to raise money in small amounts.
Conventionally yes, because you are talking about fund raising efforts. However, that impacts the other side with more severity, because we have a larger donor base in Place, which negates the Raising aspect. It is more like Collecting....
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La Leche League of Los Alamos will discuss, "Nutrition and Weaning" at their monthly meeting at 10 a.m. Monday in the nursery at the United Church, 2525 Canyon Road.
All interested, pregnant or breastfeeding women are welcome to learn and share, through mother-to-mother support, the basics and benefits of breastfeeding.
A lending library with books and audiotapes concerning childbirth, breastfeeding, parenting and nutrition is available. Nursing babies and toddlers who have difficulty separating, are welcome.LLL is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing information, education, support and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.
April 1-7
For information, call the Betty Ehart Senior Center (BESC) at 662-8920, the White Rock Senior Center (WRSC) at 662-8200 and "Day Out" (adult day care, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.) at 661-0081. Reservations must be made by 10 a.m. for daily lunches.
Betty Ehart
8:30, 10 a.m. Tax preparation
8:45 a.m. Cardio
11:30 a.m. Lunch: Chicken and dumplings
7 p.m. Ballroom dancing
8:45 a.m. Variety training
10 a.m. Computer users group
11:30 a.m. Lunch: Spaghetti
12:30 p.m. Better breathers
CANCELED: The LAHS NJROTC will host a barbecue brisket dinner from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Posse Lodge on North Mesa. Dinner includes brisket, potato salad, vegetable, a roll, drink and dessert fro $10 per plate.
Fish fry from 5-7 p.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Dinner includes fried fish, coleslaw, rice and dessert. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children and may be purchased at the door or through the IHM Youth Office. Proceeds benefit the IHM Honduras Missionaries, the Knights of Columbus and the Youth Work camp.
Art openings
Zane Bennett Contemporary Arts announces a video installation and exhibition of prints by Santa Fe artist Mitchell Marti. Also showing are works that reflect Baltimore artist Soledad Salameé's passion for the Earth's natural resources. The shows open April 27 and continues through May 18. The reception will be from 5-7 p.m. at the gallery, 435 S. Guadalupe St.
2012 Music on the Hill Concert Series Benefit will be at 6 p.m. April 3 at Il Piatto, 95 W. Marcy St. Il Piatto will donate 20 percent of the evening's restaurant sales to benefit 2012 Music on the Hill.
Book sales
Campbell's is offering an incentive for the month of March. For every five Campbell's soup labels Ponderosa Montessori collects, they will get 100 extra points. Soup labels should be dropped off at Ponderosa Montessori, 304 Rover Blvd., by March 28.
The Los Alamos Community of Atheists will host a community discussion in Room 1 of the Mesa Public Library at 6:30 p.m. The discussion topic is: "Finding Truth: Are Science and Religion Compatible?" As a primer for the discussion, participants are encouraged to read two recent Huffington Post articles: "Science, religion incompatible?" and "The Fall of foolish faith," both published March 9. All are welcome.
Campbell's is offering an incentive for the month of March. For every five Campbell's soup labels Ponderosa Montessori collects, they will get 100 extra points. Soup labels should be dropped off at Ponderosa Montessori, 304 Rover Blvd., by March 28.
March 25-31
For information, call the Betty Ehart Senior Center (BESC) at 662-8920, the White Rock Senior Center (WRSC) at 662-8200 and "Day Out" (adult day care, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.) at 661-0081. Reservations must be made by 10 a.m. for daily lunches.
8:30, 10 a.m. Tax preparation
8:45 a.m. Cardio
9 a.m. Toenail clipping
11:30 a.m. Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich
7 p.m. Ballroom dancing
8:45 a.m. Variety training
11:30 a.m. Lunch: Chicken and rice
7 p.m. Bridge
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos presents the Fairy Tale Thursdays film series at 6 p.m. in the UNM-LA Student Center. The film will be "Pan's Labyrinth."
Registration for the next session of dog training classes offered by the Los Alamos Obedience Club began March 12. Classes begin the week of April 9. Class schedule, registration guidelines and registration forms are available on the LADOC website at ladoc.dogbits.com and at 246 East Road. Registration materials must be postmarked by March 23.
Arts and crafts fairs
The Spiders' Market — a Fiber Arts Sale presented by Las Arañas Spinners and Weavers Guild will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Albuquerque Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque. Admission and parking is free.
Scottish country dancing from 7:30-10 p.m. every Monday at Fuller Lodge. Beginners welcome, no partner or kilt needed. call 662-9785 or 661-8317 for more information.
Lads of Enchantment, a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, invites the public to join them in song. They meet at 7:15 p.m. on Thursdays at the United Church of Los Alamos, Graves Hall.
The Los Alamos Choral Society is recruiting singers. Rehearsals are from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays at the United Church, 2525 Canyon Road. All singers are welcome.
The Los Alamos Community Winds invites all interested musicians to join its upcoming concerts. The LACW rehearses from 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays. lacw.org.
Copyright © 2016
The Los Alamos Monitor is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Los Alamos County and Los Alamos, NM, and the surrounding area.


text:
Large | Male
1610021, Bandi -- I'm a young cattle dog mix that hitched a ride with the Animal Control man and ended up in the City Pound on Morton Street. Yikes! -- I had no idea I was going to end up here with all these other guys wondering about my future. I sure hope my family finds me soon or I can be put up for adoption. Adoption fee includes neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations and microchip.


text:
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text:
Handi Saag Chicken
Total Time
Prep 20 mins
Cook 35 mins
Serve with Makai ki roti(bread made of corn flour) or rice.
Ingredients Nutrition
- 1⁄2 kg chicken
- 2 onions, cut in thin slices
- 1⁄2 teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 4 tablespoons oil
- 1⁄2 cup curds
- 1⁄2 kg spinach
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons dried fenugreek seeds, leave and crushed
- Take chicken in an pot.
- Add salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, green chillies, onion slices, ginger and garlic paste, spinach and water to it. Cook until chicken and spinach get tender and water becomes homogenious with spinach. Add oil, Cook and keep stirring for 5 minutes.
- Add curd and maithie. Cook until the oil separates.
- And then add garam masalah to it.
- Serve Hot.


text:
Thread: Game Server Advertisements
01-05-2014, 06:10 PM #1New Member
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Posts
- 3
Game Server Advertisements
I am wanting to set up a game server, specifically a space station 13 server. Don't worry if you don't know what that is, its a game and people make their own servers. I want players to actually visit the game.
if I buy a dedicated hosting server I need players, I am looking for ways to advertise it, what are people's suggestions?
01-05-2014, 07:44 PM #2Web Hosting Guru
- Join Date
- Jul 2013
- Posts
- 296
Use good SEO,
Post and Advertise in Game Forums,
Open a Related Game Blog
& Create a FaceBook page for your Game service.
There is more other ways you can do too.
01-06-2014, 03:27 PM #3Web Hosting Guru
- Join Date
- Mar 2012
- Posts
- 287
Try accessing the community of players on reddit.
01-06-2014, 03:42 PM #4Web Hosting Master
- Join Date
- Apr 2009
- Location
- New York City
- Posts
- 5,054
You can try advertising on forums and do blog posts. You'd need to first find a niche for example does the game deal with first person shooters or role play ? Then from here you can also find sites related to other games that relate to yours and advertise there.
Overall I personally think and suggest you should first build a team of people who will be commited to the server and have the time to help promote it. The best way of advertising is by work of mouth. Getting players to play on the server and then talk about it when they aren't playing is the best thing that can possibly happen to any business or name that is trying to promote itself . Having someone talk good about something will make others look into it.
01-06-2014, 03:55 PM #5Web Hosting Master
- Join Date
- Mar 2013
- Posts
- 837
I would first work to get a team for ST13. Its a goood game & could definitely use more servers. You have any plans on your rule set and that?
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LONDON — A Swedish doctor says four women who received transplanted wombs have had embryos transferred into them in an attempt to get pregnant.
He would not say on Monday whether any of the women had succeeded. In all, nine women in Sweden have received new wombs since 2012, but two had to have them removed because of complications.
The women received wombs donated by their mothers or other close relatives in an experimental procedure designed to test whether it's possible to transfer a uterus so a woman can give birth to her own biological child. The women had in vitro fertilization before the transplants, using their own eggs to make embryos.
"We have already begun transferring embryos into four of the women and plan to make attempts with the others when they are ready," said Dr. Mats Brannstrom, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Goteburg, who is leading the research.
Brannstrom predicted that three or four of the seven women might successfully give birth.
"One or two more will perhaps get pregnant and miscarry, and one or two won't be able to get pregnant," he said.
There have been two previous attempts to transplant a womb — in Turkey and Saudi Arabia — but both failed to produce babies. Doctors in Britain and Hungary also are planning similar operations, but using wombs from women who had just died.
Brannstrom said any woman in the study who does get pregnant will be on a low dose of drugs to keep from rejecting the transplanted womb and will be monitored as a high-risk pregnancy.
The transplants are intended to benefit women unable to have children because they lost a uterus to cancer or were born without one.
Some doctors said women who got pregnant with a new uterus would have to be watched carefully for how the womb progresses throughout pregnancy.
"There are questions about how the physiological changes in the uterus will affect the mother and whether the transplanted uterus will be conducive to a growing baby," said Dr. Charles Kingsland, a spokesman for Britain's Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a gynecologist at Liverpool Women's Hospital.
In a study published last week, Brannstrom and colleagues described the procedures used to transplant the nine wombs and said there were "mild rejection episodes" in four patients.
He said the transplanted wombs would be removed after a maximum of two pregnancies.
Other experts called it a promising step but said it would be crucial that babies get enough nutrients from the mother's blood supply.
"We really don't know if the blood flow to the uterus will increase and adapt in the same way," as in a regular pregnancy, said Dr. Yacoub Khalaf, director of the Assisted Conception unit at Guy's and St. Thomas' hospital in London.
"It is a good sign they have done the (embryo) transfers," Khalaf said. "But a live birth will be the best validation that this works."
With Trainor sitting out, OneRepublic, Fradiani, Bay impress at Sun concert
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Malloy strikes deal with unions to stretch out spiking state pension costs
Billions continue to flow to Connecticut's submarine industry
City Council a 'mediator' in getting answers about L+M joining Yale-New Haven
Groton youth still underestimate danger of prescription drugs
Take a test drive at Naskart Indoor Kart Racing in Montville
VIDEO: Salem man's family to get $950,000 in fatal police shooting
Malloy strikes deal with unions to stretch out spiking state pension costs


text:
Pepper Jack Chicken (Serves 2)
Total Time
Prep 10 mins
Cook 5 mins
A quick, easy dish.
Ingredients Nutrition
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (5 ounces each)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1⁄2-1 teaspoon seasoned pepper
- 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 slices monterey jack pepper cheese (3/4 ounces each)
- 1⁄4 cup salsa
- Brush chicken with oil; sprinkle with seasoned pepper and garlic powder.
- Coat an indoor grill with non-stick cooking spray.
- Grill chicken for 4-5 minutes or until juices run clear.
- Transfer chicken to serving plates. Top with cheese and salsa.
- NOTE: Salsa can be at room temperature, but I usually warm it in the microwave until it is just heated through.
Most Helpful
Great stuff. I don't use my indoor grill often but want to. This recipie worked great, tasted great, and fits my diet plan. I just made it for myself this time but will try it out on the rest of the family soon
Boy this worked like a charm. My honey LOVES pepper jack cheese and chicken. He was in heaven. We used chicken thighs and I served with Spanish rice and refried beans. Added a little helping of lettuce tomatoes and avocado slices. So good and So easy. Thanks - why didn't I think of this?


text:
David Gage The Realist Violin Min B-Stock
B-Stock, David Gage The Realist Violin Mini Jack - piezo pickup for violin with mini-jack socket. Achieve extraordinary pizzicato and arco sound by placing the pickup between the feet of the bridge and sound board (comes without cable)., B-Stock with full warranty, may have slight traces of use
Online guides
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- David Gage Pickups for Violins at a glance
- display Pickups for Violins in price range 160 € - 200 €
- go to product group Pickups for Violins
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