Fresno Auto Dealer Sues American Honda Motor

A Fresno automobile dealer is alleging that American Honda Motor Co. and its chief executive officer engaged in fraudulent activity in connection with awarding Honda dealerships, according to Automotive News, a trade publication.

The suit alleges that Koichi Amemiya, American Honda’s president and CEO, knew about widespread fraud and dealer racketeering in the awarding of Honda and Acura dealerships in the past two decades. About 18 similar suits have been filed around the country, according to Automotive News.

The suit was filed about a month after federal officials indicted 13 former Honda executives in connection with a fraud and racketeering investigation. Eight of the executives subsequently pleaded guilty to fraud-related charges. The civil suit filed in U.S. District Court in Santa Clara, contends that top Honda executives, including Amemiya, knew about the alleged wrongdoing.