3 Car Dealerships Settle Lawsuits

Three Los Angeles-area car dealerships have settled consumer protection lawsuits by paying fines without admitting to any wrongdoing, the state attorney general’s office said.

Jim Smathers’ Cypress Nissan/Datsun and Jim Smathers’ Performance Lincoln-Mercury in Van Nuys agreed to pay a total of $32,000 in civil penalties and attorneys fees. Frank Coletto Ford in Harbor City agreed to pay $12,500 in civil penalties.

In addition, the three dealerships agreed not to engage in misleading advertising practices in the future.