Desert Messenger

June 12, 2013 13 www.DesertMessenger.com Attorney General shuts down auto repair shop of former Quartzsite business owner In the sting operation, an automotive repair expert shut off an undercover vehicle's fuel cutoff switch before the State's undercover operator called Sun Valley Towing for service. Sun Valley Towing towed the vehicle to its repair shop where a mechanic simply reset the switch, correcting the problem. The owner then charged the State's undercover operator $340.00 for replacing the fuel pump, an unnecessary repair that was never performed. In a Consent Judgment (attached) totaling $686,582.09 the Court approved an award of $610,000 in civil penalties and $67,580.59 in restitution to consumers. The Judgment against Tim Kunselman, owner of Sun Valley Towing LLC, located at 1354 S. 39th Avenue in Phoenix, was based upon both customer complaints of deceptive business practices, and the State's undercover auto sting opera- "This judgment results from our ongoing undercover auto sting operations and holds Sun Valley Towing's owner personally liable." Horne said. "The many serious complaints we received from Sun Valley customers were validated when Kunselman and his company, Sun Valley Towing, were caught red-handed in one of our undercover auto stings charging for repairs they never performed – a very serious and expensive deception for consumers." The State's suit also contained allegations regarding 59 complaints made by customers against Sun Valley Towing and Kunselman, alleging they failed to make promised repairs, kept their vehicles for months or years, returned them stripped of parts in the same or worse mechanical condition, and repeatedly lied to customers about their vehicle's status and supposed refunds. In a similar judgment obtained last October against the business, the Court found, after reviewing the consumer complaints, "that Defendants engaged in a highly culpable, persistent course of callous, willful and de- Main Street Eatery The Gathering Place of Quartzsite for Good Food, Fun and Friendship! Early Bird BREAKFAST SPECIALS Mon-Fri 6-9am 205 E. Main Street, Quartzsite 928-927-4163 Desert Messenger Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com ONLINE Phone: 928-916-4235 MyQuartzsite.com www.DesertMessenger.com Got Drugs? Turn in your unused or expired medication for safe disposal Mon - Fri. 8am-5pm Quartzsite Police Department KARAOKE with Kevin James Thur - Sat. 7pm Serving Quartsite at Same Location for over 20 years! DEADLINE IS WED. JULY 10 for JULY 17TH issue of the Desert Messenger Famous Gourmet Pizza T������� $1 TACOS • $2 M��������� 7am - 7pm Mon. thru Sat. • 7am - 2pm Sunday 350 The Consent Judgment also includes a permanent injunction prohibiting Kunselman from engaging in auto repair, tow operations, vehicle repair, vehicle sales and vehicle service. SILLY AL'S PIZZA Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner $ ceptive misconduct that caused severe damage to an extraordinary number of consumers over an extended period of time." Bloody Mary Sundays $2.00 from 10-2 Daily Beer on Tap $1.00 a glass from 10-2 EAT IN OR TAKE OUT! Reservations Accepted! Large Groups OK! 175 E. Main St. 928-927-5585 www.sillyalspizza.com MOUNTAIN QUAIL CAFE Open Year-Round @ 6am 490 N. Moon Mt. Ave., Quartzsite (corner of Moon Mt. & Quail Trail) Home Style Cooking! Open 6am • MEXICAN MONDAY! 7pm • Thurs. SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS 7 DAYS/ WEEK • Friday FISH Special N Quail Trail • Sat. PRIME RIB Enjoy our Famous Bread Pudding! 928-927-8890 X B-10, Main St. Hwy. 95, N. Central Phoenix, AZ - Attorney General Tom Horne announced Thursday, the resolution of a case in his ongoing auto repair "sting" operations, a program he instituted to deter auto repair shops from defrauding consumers. tions. Kunselman had also operated Quartzsite Tire in 2009 at 1077 W. Main St. Moon Mountain Attorney General Tom Horne: Sting Operation Shuts Down Auto Repair Shop Permanently

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