Two dealers in Southwest Florida have sued General Motors in federal court, saying the automaker’s recent decisions destroyed their value and made their franchises “worthless overnight.”

The lawsuits, filed in the past two weeks in the U.S. District Court
in Fort Myers, are now in limbo, as GM looks to reorganize under
Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

“All that litigation is on hold for the moment based on the GM
bankruptcy filing,” said Robert Byerts, whose Tallahassee law firm,
Myers & Fuller PA, represents both dealers.

Debt-ridden and stung by a sharp decline in sales, GM filed for
bankruptcy on Monday after it failed to successfully reorganize outside
of court.

Saturn Southwest Florida, with three dealerships in Naples, Fort Myers and Cape Coral, sued GM on May 21.

Dick DeVoe Buick Cadillac Inc., with dealerships in Naples and Bonita Springs, followed with a lawsuit on May 29.

• Full Story

international