Anthony Collins and James Powell have filed a class action lawsuit against Christopher Auffenberg in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. The case, bearing ID 3:24-cv-01120-RJD, was lodged on April 17, 2024. The plaintiffs accuse Auffenberg of fraudulent business practices that allegedly affected over 40 individuals, with damages exceeding $5 million.
The plaintiffs, represented by their counsel, allege that Auffenberg intentionally targeted customers from Illinois through specific marketing efforts and maintained businesses within the state. The defendant is said to have portrayed himself as a "family of dealerships" with "new and used vehicles in Missouri and Illinois", benefiting from substantial business activity involving customers from Illinois.
The complaint further states that Auffenberg's scheme to defraud was designed and operated in Illinois. His dealerships, located in Missouri, purportedly presented themselves as serving specific municipalities located in Illinois. The alleged fraudulent activities have reportedly caused significant financial harm to the plaintiffs and those similarly situated.
Collins and Powell are seeking judgment against Auffenberg for his alleged wrongful conduct. They argue that the court has jurisdiction over this matter due to the minimal diversity of parties involved, the number of class members, and the substantial amount in controversy.