A 10-year-ban against a Burnaby used-car dealership caught selling unsafe cars has been upheld by a B.C. Supreme Court judge, but a 10-year ban against its owner has been quashed.
Best Import Auto Ltd. on Kingsway and Imperial Street – recognizable by the fake, neon-coloured palm trees that adorn its lot – was investigated last July after repeated customer complaints, according to court documents.
After an investigation and hearing, the Vehicle Sales Authority of B.C. yanked the dealership’s registration and banned both the company and its owner, 80-year-old Bob Shokohi, from reapplying for 10 years.
Registrar of motor dealers Ian Christman ruled Best Import had sold unsafe cars, “willfully” disobeyed orders from the auto sales regulator and tried to mislead one of its hearings.
The company and owner pushed back, petitioning B.C. Supreme Court to have Christman’s decision quashed and a new hearing called or the penalty reconsidered.
In a May 22 decision, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ward Branch denied the petition against the 10-year ban on the company, but agreed Shokohi’s ban should be set aside because he wasn’t given adequate notice he could be personally barred from selling cars because ofthe vehicle sales authority hearing.
The auto sales regulator has yet to decide whether to launch fresh proceedings against Shokohi personally.
Justice Branch declined to comment on the reasonableness of the 10-year ban against the Best Import owner, “particularly as the evidence and submissions may change if and when that proceeding is heard,” Branch said.
