Raceway Ford Cases

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiffs, appellants, and cross-respondents (plaintiffs) are consumers who

purchased vehicles from defendant, respondent, and cross-appellant Raceway Ford

(Raceway), an automobile dealership. Plaintiffs alleged numerous causes of action based

1 on laws proscribing certain acts against consumers, unfair competition, and deceptive

business practices, bringing both individual claims and claims on behalf of two certified

classes. The trial court, after a bench trial, entered judgment in favor of Raceway and

against plaintiffs on all causes of action, except that a single plaintiff was granted

rescission on a single cause of action. Separately, the trial court awarded attorneys’ fees

and costs to Raceway in the amount of $1,503,084.50. In these appeals, which we

ordered consolidated for oral argument and decision, plaintiffs challenge the trial court’s

judgment on the merits (case No. E054517) and fee order (case No. E056595); Raceway

has cross-appealed regarding one aspect of the trial court’s fee order.

With respect to the trial court’s decision on the merits (case No. E054517),

plaintiffs contend that, as a matter of law, Raceway’s previous practice…