EDWARDSVILLE — An Air Force sergeant and his wife claim a Collinsville auto dealership harassed them and falsely told his commanding officer that he owed on a vehicle that had already been paid in full.
Lee Synder and Stacey Snyder filed a complaint March 19 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Jack Schmitt Ford Inc., and Ford Motor Credit Company LLC, alleging defamation, tortious interference with employment relations, violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act and invasion of privacy.
According to their complaint, the plaintiffs allege Lee Synder purchased a 2020 Ford F-150 from Jack Schmitt Ford on Sept. 8, 2020. They claim they received a notice after Sept. 20, 2020, stating their monthly payments would be $57.46 and that the dealership never responded to more than 20 requests questioning the payment. They also claim that on advice from a family friend who is an attorney, they paid off the entire balance of the car loan for $4,137 and received a lien release and certificate of title from Ford Credit. The plaintiffs allege that the Schmitt Ford general manager came to their house and made harassing phone calls in an attempt to have them sign additional sales documents. A representative from the Schmitt dealership then emailed Lee Synder's master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force falsely stating that Synder owed the dealership money, according to their suit. They claim the false accusations were then reported to his commanding officer which has jeopardized his re-enlistment prospects and loss of more than $300,000 in retirement benefits.
The Synders seek monetary and all other just relief. They are represented by David Duree of David Duree & Associates PC in O'Fallon.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000352