Melendez

FACTS

In March 2018, plaintiff Jonathan Alejandro Melendez purchased a used 2015 Toyota Camry from Southgate Auto, Inc., doing business as Express Auto Lending, under a retail installment sales contract. Southgate assigned the contract to defendant Westlake Services, LLC, doing business as Westlake Financial Services. In September 2018, plaintiff sent defendant a notice alleging Southgate violated the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA; Civ. Code, § 1750 et seq.) and demanding rescission, restitution and an injunction. Plaintiff later sued both Southgate and defendant. Plaintiff alleged violations of the CLRA, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Civ. Code, § 1790 et seq.), Civil Code section 1632 (requiring translation of contracts negotiated primarily in Spanish), and the unfair competition law (Bus. & Prof. Code,

2 § 17200 et seq.), plus causes of action for fraud and negligent misrepresentation. During the litigation, defendant assigned the contract back to Southgate. In December 2019, default was entered against Southgate, and plaintiff and defendant settled the case. Under the settlement, defendant agreed to pay plaintiff $6,204.68 (representing a $2,500 down payment and…