Newport Beach : Auto Importer Settles State’s Suit for $175,000
The president of a Newport Beach firm that imports expensive European cars has agreed to pay $175,000 in civil penalties to settle a lawsuit alleging that his firm sold the cars in violation of state air quality laws, the state attorney general’s office announced Monday.
The civil suit, filed by the attorney general’s office, alleged that Albert Mardikian, president of Trend Imports Sales, illegally issued smog certificates for the cars, altered the cars’ odometers and filed false information with the state Department of Motor Vehicles in order to sell the cars.
In its statement issued in Los Angeles, the attorney general’s office said most of the cars were European models of the Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, that, under California law, may not be sold in California. California law requires new cars to be certified by the California Air Resources Board before being sold.
According to the statement, the settlement was reached last week. Under its terms, Mardikian will pay the $175,000 in $25,000 annual installments. If he defaults, he is subject to $300,000 in penalties, and his firm is subject to $250,000 in penalties.
Neither Mardikian nor any other member of his firm could be reached for comment.
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