Car Dealer in Hot Water

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Court admonishes car dealer in lawsuit," by Robert Goodrich--

An inquiry has been ordered by a Belleville judge into a letter sent by a Springfield, Ill., Ford dealership to law enforcement agencies across Illinois that have filed suit claiming Ford police cruisers are unsafe.

Circuit Judge Lloyd A. Cueto warned that the inquiry could lead to civil or criminal contempt proceedings and to action by the Illinois Registration and Disciplinary Commission. The commission is a state agency that disciplines attorneys.

On Friday, Cueto put Landmark Ford's fleet sales manager, Lyle Snow, under oath and grilled him about a letter dated Sept. 23 to local sheriffs and police chiefs. It suggests they "opt out" of the suit and keep buying from Landmark.

The letter was allegedly improper because the judge had ordered parties not to contact class members in the lawsuit without prior approval.