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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Isuzu Fight Spawns Suit

Two Spokane-area car dealerships could land in court over claims one is trying to steal the other’s customers.

Wendle Motors Inc. filed a lawsuit Friday against Dan Barton Oldsmobile Cadillac, Inc., of Coeur d’Alene, in Spokane County Superior Court.

Wendle claims Barton has sent letters to Wendle’s customers saying Wendle would no longer be an Isuzu dealership.

“We’ve just turned it over to our attorneys and they’re handling it from here,” said Dick Wendle, president of Wendle Motors. “We haven’t been able to get to the bottom of this. It’s just a vindictive type of action.”

Barton declined to comment.

Wendle also said Barton has told body shops in Washington, Idaho and Montana that Wendle is no longer an Isuzu dealer.

“We wholesale parts to the body shops,” Wendle said. “That’s a big part of our business.”

A Dec. 8 letter sent to Isuzu customers has already damaged Wendle’s business and reputation, Wendle said. In the letter, Barton said it would soon be the only Isuzu dealer in the area. The letter invited customers to become part of “the Dan Barton Isuzu family.”

Wendle is considering discontinuing the Isuzu line, Wendle said, but had not planned to do so immediately. Many customers have called and written Wendle Motors, angry at having to drive to Coeur d’Alene for service.

“In the spring I will be in the market for a new pickup. Would you like to know what dealership where I will not be looking?” wrote Ronald Hagerman.

Hagerman, who lives in Deer Park, purchased an Isuzu at Wendle and was angry about having to drive to Coeur d’Alene. Hagerman said Wendle representatives called him to say Barton’s letter was wrong.

Isuzu representatives say Wendle is still the company’s Spokane dealership. In a Dec. 16 letter, Isuzu asked Barton to stop telling people otherwise.

“We hereby demand that you and your dealership personnel no longer make representations that you are the only Isuzu sales and service facility in the Spokane Coeur d’Alene market,” reads the letter from Isuzu official R.F. Mansfield.

, DataTimes