Could $131 kill C.L.Park District deal?

Could it matter to the Crystal Lake Park District whether a deal to buy the Viking Dodge real estate could be slowed by a $131 court order?

In January Judge Michael Caldwell ordered James Samaras, Jr. and Viking Dodge to pay Wayne Beto, Marengo, $131.00. Has Beto been paid yet? Not according to Wayne Beto.

Of course, maybe the deal won't really be affected, because James Samaras, Jr. does not personally own the real estate that he'd like the Park District to pay $6,000,000 for. And Viking Dodge doesn't own it, either. The real property is owned by Samaras' limited liability company, James Real Estate, LLC.

But the Park District will want to be sure that it is dealing with a man of integrity and who has respect for the courts in McHenry County, won't it? You know? Mr. Samaras probably just "forgot" to write a check to Wayne, or maybe he didn't know where to mail it to. Or maybe he's waiting for the $6,000,000 from the Park District to roll in, and then he'll pay Wayne.

Wayne's attorney goofed, big-time, by not putting a pay-by date in the Order that Judge Caldwell signed. He should have put "within five business days and in good funds" in the Order.

Wayne could get a judgment for the $131.00, but everyone, including Mr. Samaras and his attorney, knows it would take months. Wayne would file the action, and then Mr. Samaras' attorneys would get busy with Motions against it. Eventually, Wayne would get his money and all his legal fees and expenses, but at this point it's just not worth it. And Mr. Samaras knows that.

Maybe Mr. Samaras will be a gentleman and hand his $131.00 check to Wayne on Wednesday night at the Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission meeting or at Thursday night's Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners meeting.

C.L. Park District buy on hold?

Last night I received a call from a man who has taken an intense interest in the proposed purchase of the Viking Dodge property by the Crystal Lake Park District. He probably wouldn't have any interest in it at all, if Viking Dodge and its owner, James Samaria's, Jr. hadn't cost him $7,000 in legal fees over a two-year period before abandoning its lawsuit against him and then further compounded the insult by refusing to honor Judge Caldwell's January order to pay him $131.00, in reimbursement of his required Appearance Fee when the court case started.

What's that old saw about Hell has no fury like a woman scorned?

Probably by now, Mr. Samaras wishes he had forked over the $131.00 in January and also that his attorneys had recently been a little more polite, when Wayne Beto stopped by their offices to discuss Judge Caldwell's order pertaining to the $131.00.

Will Wayne get even a little satisfaction if he can do anything to torpedo the Park District stimulus payment to James Real Estate LLC for the Viking Dodge property? Yes, indeed.

A reasonable person has to wonder exactly why the Park District would consider paying $6,290,000 for 27 acres during these economic times.

Especially against a low appraisal of $5,550,000.
Or a market value of $3,420,000 (calculated from the newspaper article's statement that "The assessed value of a property is one-third of its market value.")

I have previously written here about the McHenry County Property Tax Bill of one parcel of Viking Dodge property. There is apparently some ground zoned agricultural that is part of the deal.

At any rate, what's the rush? It's not like there are other bidders for the property. Why doesn't the Park District sit back and wait? Its obligation is to buy land at the lowest possible price. Is there any other buyer on the horizon?

Wayne told me last night he had a hard time getting what he considered straight answers out of the Park District yesterday about when they would be making their decision. It sounded to Wayne like the Park District was going to do what it wanted to do, no matter what.

And then this morning's Northwest Herald tells a different story. Water table problems. Possible development problems related to intended use. It's time to slow down. Look what has happened with the ground where the baseball stadium is (was?) to be built in Woodstock! Rush, rush, rush. Now? Wait, wait, wait.

If you are a taxpayer and a voter in the Crystal Lake Park District, you'll want to call the Park District office and demand to know when the next meeting is. And then be there.

Will it be July 20? Will it be sooner?

Wayne - back in action

If there is one guy in McHenry County you don't want to get on your bad side, it's Wayne Beto of Marengo. Wayne is a nice guy but, if you deal him a ration of verbal abuse, you pretty quickly find out that Wayne is not going to accept it.

Here's Wayne today with his new car, a Kia. Had the folks at Viking Dodge been polite and respectful two years ago, Wayne would now be driving a two-year-old Dodge. You can find the whole story elsewhere here; just search for Viking Dodge.

Wayne was in court for about the 13th time on January 14, 2009, in Viking Dodge's $500,000 lawsuit against him. On that day Viking Dodge and James Samaras, the Plaintiffs, asked to withdraw the lawsuit, and Judge Caldwell allowed that. Judge Caldwell did order the Plaintiffs to pay Wayne the amount of his Appearance fee, which was $131.00.

I know things are slow in the car business, but one of the things you really should do is follow a judge's Order, especially when it involves only $131.00.

Did Viking Dodge and James Samaras pay? No. NO.

On Monday Wayne went to court and spoke with Judge Caldwell, who told him to go and collect his $131.00.

As you may have read earlier this week, Wayne went to Viking Dodge's attorneys, Campion, Curran, Dunlop and Lamb, P.C., where he was received most ungraciously by Mr. Missimer and Mr. Curran. They told him to clear out and threatened to call the sheriff's department, which they did.

On Tuesday Wayne went back to see Judge Caldwell and told him exactly what had transpired at Campion, Curran, Dunlop and Lamb, P.C.

I rather suspect that Mr. Samaras, Viking Dodge, and Campion, Curran, Dunlop and Lamb, P.C. will quite soon see the wisdom of somebody writing Wayne at check for $131.00.

Should Wayne file a complaint against Mr. Missimer and Mr. Curran?

Wayne Beto v. Viking Dodge - Not Over Yet

I thought I had written about all there was to write about the sage of Wayne Beto v. Viking Dodge, but it's not over yet. You remember Wayne; right? The man with the grey Dodge Magnum with the signs plastered all over it, urging passersby to go to RipOffReport.com and read about Viking Dodge?

When Judge Caldwell agreed to Viking Dodge's motion to withdraw its case, or whatever the fancy footwork was, earlier this year, his Order was for the Plaintiff (Viking Dodge and Jim Samaras) to pay Wayne $131 as reimbursement of his court costs.

Would you believe that Viking Dodge has not coughed up the $131 yet?

This morning Wayne was in Judge Caldwell's court to complain that Viking Dodge had not paid him. Wayne told me that the judge told him to go and try to collect it. And so he did.

Being a good, loyal, faithful, trustworthy, kind, reverend, law-abiding citizen, Wayne remembered Viking Dodge's threats to have him arrested for trespassing, if he entered upon their property. So, instead, he went to the offices of the lawyers for Viking Dodge: Campion, Curran, Dunlop & Lamb, P.C., right there on U.S. 14, just up the road from Wayne's Corner.

Wayne was shocked at the reception he got there. Wayne told me he first spoke with Mr. Missimer and then he spoke with Mr. Curran. Now, I'm going to be polite here and refer to them as "Mr.". Wayne said they were anything BUT polite to him. How about "rude, unprofessional, intimidating, threatening" for starters? Just how you'd like to be greeted, if you walked into a law firm.

And then Wayne said Mr. Curran ordered him out of the office or he'd call the police. Wayne said Good Bye and walked out, and they did call the police. Wayne waited and soon a McHenry County Sheriff's deputy showed up, spoke with Wayne, and then Wayne left.

You are probably familiar with Wayne's reaction to being verbally mistreated at Viking Dodge. He parked across the street from Viking Dodge for two years. Well, the signs about Viking Dodge are off his vehicle. As a matter of fact, he has gotten rid of the Magnum and is very happy with his new Kia.

Wayne will be right back at Judge Caldwell's court tomorrow morning, and he will ask the judge to enforce a judgement against Viking Dodge, including all collection costs. AND he will ask Judge Caldwell to cite Viking Dodge for contempt of court. AND he will ask Judge Caldwell to address the rude behavior of Attorneys Missimer and Curran. Like, maybe arrange for them to be guests of Sheriff Nygren for about three days, and I don't mean at his Wisconsin vacation house.

And I suspect that Wayne will seriously consider filing grievances with the McHenry County Bar Association, the Illinois Bar Association, and the A.R.D.C. (the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission - http://www.iardc.com/). You know? You would think they'd know better than to mess with Wayne...

All they had to do was be polite and say something like, "Thanks for coming in, Wayne. Since you had an attorney, we really can only communicate with him, but we'll get hold of our client (Viking Dodge - still in business - for how much longer?) about the money it owes you. We'll let your attorney know by Friday." And that would have taken care of that.

Instead, Messrs. Missimer and Curran have bought themselves a ton of trouble. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Wayne's new Kia is sporting some new signs and parked in a new spot one day soon. Let's see. Where would a good spot be? How about 8600 West U.S. Highway 14?

Viking Dodge Update

If you have a car on order, a deposit sitting there on a new car, parts pre-paid and on order, or a car in the service bay at Viking Dodge, you'll want to make prompt arrangements to get squared away before it closes.

Viking Dodge is on the kill list as a "Chicago-area dealership set to close" published today in Crain's ChicagoBusiness. See the entire article at www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=34042

This won't come as a surprise to anyone who has been driving by Viking during that past two-three months. Sales lot inventory has been dwindling and, if they even stay open until June 9, I'll be surprised. I wonder what that $41,000 Dodge pick-up will go for on June 10. $41,000 for a pick-up truck???

The Crystal Lake Park District is trying to buy the property for about twice what it's worth - "worth" being the Fair Cash Value of $3,339,624 shown in the McHenry County 2007 property tax records. Does anyone around here think property values have increased in the last two years?

Perhaps the Park District ought to be sitting back, waiting for a better deal, instead of being so anxious to spend $6,290,000 of taxpayer money. What's the rush? Isn't it obligated, as stewards of the public trough, to buy at the best price? By that, I mean the best buying price, not the best selling price for the current owner of the property.

Viking Dodge - Friend or Foe

A new reader of WoodstockAdvocate.com posted a comment today to an August 31, 2007, article, and I thought it was worth publishing right up front, especially in view of the dwindling supply of vehicles on the Viking Dodge lot in Crystal Lake and the apparently strong interest of the Crystal Lake Parks District in acquiring the Viking Dodge property (for about twice its fair market value).

Take a look at the plight of this customer and offer any help, either by posting your comment here or by writing directing to him.

He wrote:

inkdup102586 (http://openid.aol.com/inkdup102586) has left a new comment on your post "Wayne vs. Viking Dodge - He's Back": I don't know if anyone will see this, but if someones does and wants to try and help me then thanks ahead of time. I bought a car from them about 4 years ago when i was 18 and didnt have a license. When i received my 1st payment due paper it was almost twice the amount i signed for. Turns out viking dodge sent in a contract that was around $15000 higher then the one i had.If anyone has a way to help me, my email is inkdup102586@yahoo.com

More Court Waste

Remember Wayne - of Viking Dodge v. Wayne Beto fame?

I was at the McHenry County courthouse this week and looked up the number of entries in the computer system at the courthouse! Count them for yourself.

1. 11/3/06 Case No. 06LA000351 was filed by Viking Dodge against Wayne Beto
2. 3/2/07 Continued
3. 5/22/07 Continued on motion by Viking Dodge
4. 6/19/07 Status check - continued
5. 7/17/07 Case re-assigned
6. 8/2/07 Motion to Dismiss - set for hearing
7. 8/30/07 Motion to Dismiss - allowed
8. 11/1/07 Status check - continued
9. 1/10/08 Status check - continued
10. 1/25/08 Motion to Compel - allowed
11. 2/8/08 Status check - continued
12. 3/2/08 Status check - continued
13. 4/18/08 Status check - continued
14. 6/13/08 Status check - continued by Viking Dodge's Motion
15. 6/27/08 Status check - continue
16. 8/18/08 Status check - set date for jury trial
17. 1/14/09 Motion to Dismiss by Viking Dodge - granted

Is it any wonder that our court system is clogged to the gills? I wonder whether anyone at the courthouse is looking at cases like this one and trying to figure out how to put a stop to this kind of nonsense.

Why didn't the court put its foot down, set a trial date and tell both sides to be ready or forget it. This case could have - and should have - been over in 4-6 months.

The Sign Guy - down but not out

It's all over but the shouting and screaming.

Judge Michael Caldwell heard a Motion to Dismiss this morning by Viking Dodge, which asked the judge to dismiss its $500,000 lawsuit against Wayne Beto.

Wayne's the guy, you may recall, who has been parking on U.S. 14 across from Viking Dodge - the guy who owns a Dodge that he bought from Viking Dodge - the guy who has the signs taped all over his car that express his opinion of the way that Viking Dodge conducts business. (Click on the photo to enlarge it for a good view of the signs; then click Back on your browser to close the enlarged photo.)

Wayne's case was called at 9:04AM, but neither his attorney nor the attorney for Viking Dodge was in the courtroom. Where were they?! The judge let it slide and told Wayne to sit down and wait for counsel. The two lawyers showed up and the case was called again at 9:31AM.

Even though I was sitting in the front and as close as possible to the judge, it was virtually impossible to hear what was being said between the lawyers and Judge Caldwell. Lips were moving, though, so the business of the court was proceeding. As a matter of fact, the jaw of Viking Dodge's lawyer was moving even when he wasn't talking. Was he really chewing gum right in front of Judge Caldwell?

The Motion before Judge Caldwell was to dismiss the case - a case that was filed on November 3, 2006 - more than two years ago. Wayne told me that it was continued 13 times, and today Viking Dodge wants to dismiss it???

Wayne's attorney, Jim Mullally of Franks, Gerkin and McKenna of Marengo, was to object to the Motion to Dismiss. Wayne had told me that he didn't want the case dropped. Wayne wanted the case to continue. He even offered to pay the costs of the deposition they had been trying to get from Jim Samaras, owner of Viking Dodge. Wayne wanted a truthful statement from Jim Samaras to support his Complaint in Circuit Court.

Unfortunately, Wayne was never able to get Samaras deposed.

Just before Judge Caldwell ruled on the Motion, Wayne asked if he could speak, and Judge Caldwell allowed him to do so. Wayne stated that this case had been in court for two years, that he was on Social Security, and that this case had cost him $7,000 in legal fees to defend himself. Wayne was hoping that Judge Caldwell would order Jim Samaras and Viking Dodge, the plaintiffs, to reimburse him for his legal fees.

Judge Caldwell did not. So, where it stands is that Viking Dodge and Jim Samaras were able, through their lawyers, to start a case in court and then, after two years, to drop it.

Wayne's lawyer explained to Wayne after court that, had this case been heard in England, a judge probably would have ordered Viking Dodge and Jim Samaras to pay Wayne for his legal fees.

In the United States, however, you can sue somebody, cause them to incur large legal fees, refuse to comply with the requirements of the case (such a deposition) and then drop your case, and not have to pay the legal costs incurred by the defendant.

Wayne's car was in front of the courthouse this morning. Wayne has been gratified by the response of the motoring public to his parking near Viking Dodge and driving all over McHenry County with the signs on his car. Many motorists have stopped to talk with Wayne, ask about his signs and to share their own stories of sales experiences with the same dealer.

The next step is to analyze the progress of his case and determine whether it could have been conducted more efficiently and more economically. Should a case like this have dragged on for two years? Should the court have allowed it to drag on for two years?

There is a certain amount of legal maneuvering that goes on in any legal case. But, from my observations in Woodstock, judges need to put their feet down sooner and more often, and tell lawyers to stop fooling around and move forward with their cases. Any continuance needs to be for good purpose. And, when a judge says that something is to happen by a certain date, then it had better happen.

If I were a judge and told a party in a lawsuit that his deposition was to be taken by a certain date, I would not be nice to him when he came back to court and said it hadn't been done. I think I'd give him three days in jail for contempt of court and send a strong message through the legal community that, when I said something, I meant it.

And my ratings from lawyers? They'd either be really high or they'd tank.

Viking Dodge - Lights Out?

When I drove past Viking Dodge at 7:00PM yesterday, the sales lot and showroom lights were out. Is there more meaning to this than just an energy conservation step?

If Viking Dodge has bitten the dust, this is a bad sign for Crystal Lake. The sales tax revenues will be lost, even though they must have declined seriously during the recent months.

If Viking Dodge closes, many jobs will go down the drain; salesmen, managers, clerical, parts, repair and body shop employees will all be looking for new jobs. And there will be few jobs from which to pick.

Viking Dodge has taken a few hits from me over the past year, as I weighed in on the conflict between Wayne Beto and Viking Dodge. The loss of a major dealership in Crystal Lake is not the solution anyone was looking for.

And Wayne's case in McHenry County court system? The trial was set for February 2. Rumor has it that an earlier date is now on the docket. On Wednesday, January 14, the judge will hear a Motion to Dismiss from Viking Dodge. No doubt that the good judge will grant the Motion, and the 2-1/2 year legal battle against Wayne will end.

Yesterday I attempted to explain the ramifications of the deepening recession to a young man here in Woodstock. If there is anyone who doesn't think it's darned serious, he'd better think again. The auto industry affects a huge number of Americans, not just those on the assembly lines or in the glass palaces in Detroit.

The ripple effect of our extremely-serious economic problems will affect every one of us.

The Beat(ing) Goes On

Recently one of McHenry County's most persistent protestors, Wayne Beto of Marengo, was contacted yet one more time by Crystal Lake Police officers, while he was parked in his favorite parking spot on U.S. 14, just south of IL 176, diagonally across from Viking Dodge.

As you may have read here before, Wayne is the man who tried to buy a new vehicle from Viking Dodge, didn't like the way he was treated, and began to exercise his First Amendment right to free speech by plastering the sides and back of his vehicle with signs urging readers to go to www.RipOffReport.com

Wayne is also the man being sued by Viking Dodge for $500,000; that's right, half a Million dollars! That case has been gathering dust in the McHenry County Court system for two years, only occasionally dusted off for one more continuance. Next court date? February 2. Groundhog Day. Catch the irony of the date?

Wayne recently submitted a FOIA Request to the Crystal Lake PD for a report in which, Wayne says, a Viking Dodge employee frivolously accused him of leaning against the post in the right-of-way where Viking Dodge's mailbox is placed. You know there must a law somewhere in the Compiled Statutes or the Federal Postal Regulations that reads, "It shall be unlawful, especially if you are 73 years old and short of breath, to lean against a U.S. Mailbox for more than two seconds, even if no damage is caused to the mailbox or the post on which it is placed."

Two police officers responded to Viking Dodge and then talked to Wayne. As it happened, I was there that day and can attest that Wayne violated no law. And the police officers agreed.

Wayne has been trying to file a complaint with the Crystal Lake Police Department about the false report. Wayne has been harassed on several occasions by Viking Dodge employees, some of which I have also witnessed. The Crystal Lake Police will not pursue Wayne's complaint.

Last Friday Wayne met with a man who, Wayne said, identified himself as the police chief. Wayne reports that the man said he had not read the police report, but "it" (the complaint) wasn't going anywhere. Wayne understood that to mean that the police department was not going to investigate the possibility that its time and resources had been wasted by a person making a false report.

I know Chief David Linder to be a good police officer, and he and his officers (with one notable exception) have already treated me respectfully. Because of the number of times the police have been called to Viking Dodge to hear whining about Wayne, I would think that the police would eventually explain to the employees there that Wayne is not breaking any law and that they will be prosecuted if they continue to make groundless complaints.

The City Attorney for Crystal Lake has issued a letter to Wayne confirming that the signs on his vehicle are not unlawful and that Wayne's signs fall within his First Amendment rights to free speech.

Maybe Wayne's supporters will all be in court on February 2. Wear your favorite Groundhog Day sweatshirt with Punxsutawney Phil on the back and "You go, Wayne" on the front.

"Oh, but Officer, he's leaning ...

... against our mailbox."

This afternoon I visited with Wayne (remember Wayne?). Wayne's the man in Crystal Lake who is being sued for $500,000 by Viking Dodge. And the man who is picketing Viking Dodge and informing the public of how he was treated and letting passersby know where they can read more complaints about Viking Dodge. (www.RipOffReport.com)

Wayne has documented several acts against him with reports and complaints to the Crystal Lake Police Department. In one case an employee of Viking Dodge stole signs off his vehicle. That employee was prosecuted and convicted. And now that employee is a former employee.

On another day Wayne's Magnum station wagon was boxed in by three Viking Dodge vehicles until an officer of the Crystal Lake Police Department arrived.

Wayne and I walked over to the front grass area along the curb, because Wayne wanted to measure the width of the right-of-way and determine whether any of the cars for sale were intruding on the right-of-way. We knew the right-of-way was 22 feet from a zoning map on file with the City of Crystal Lake.

At no time did Wayne or I encroach on the private property of Viking Dodge. We remained at all time in the right-of-way easement, to which the public has access. Wayne knows this. I know this. The officers of the Crystal Lake Police Department know this.

After Wayne and I crossed U.S. 14 back to his car, two Crystal Lake PD squad cars rolled onto Viking Dodge property. And then the officers came over to talk to Wayne, because some Viking Dodge employee had complained that Wayne was leaning against their mailbox, the post of which is fully in the right-of-way.

Can you imagine that? A Viking Dodge employee (OK, who was it? a mechanic? janitor; lot boy? salesman? sales manager? general manager?) called the police department about Wayne leaning against the mailbox post?

The officers were polite and knew that no crime had been committed. I asked one of the officers what it would take to get them to file criminal charges against the Viking Dodge employee for a false report or harassment.

Viking Dodge must love the publicity that Wayne is getting for them. Many, many people honk horns and wave at Wayne. Many give him the thumbs-up and call out encouragement.

After two years of picketing, you'd think that the management of Viking Dodge would wise up. Oh, wait; they are car dealers.

What if someone had run out with a lawnchair and a beach umbrella for shade, brought Wayne a bottle of cold water or a can of lemonade, and said, "Wayne, you look a little tired; here, have a seat."

What if Jim Samaris approached Wayne and offered a genuine apology for the shabby treatment of Wayne, who had tried to buy a brand new car and trade in a car he had been perfectly happy with.

As I told one of the officers today, "Wayne's parking space" was covered with nails one day. And I don't mean just a few. How about a couple of boxes of nails? IDOT sent over a crew to sweep up the shoulder of the state highway. I'm sure no Viking Dodge employee had anything to do with that. The boxes of nails probably just fell over the side of a carpenter's truck, took a couple of good bounces and then split open, spreading nails evenly from the curb about five feet into the shoulder and for about 15 feet. Just a small mishap, of course...

Viking Dodge vs. Wayne Beto

Yesterday I stopped again to visit with Wayne Beto in "his" parking place on U.S. 14 at IL 176, across the intersection from Viking Dodge in Crystal Lake.

Wayne's next date in court is February 2. How appropriate, right? Groundhog Day. For Wayne, this whole (melo)drama must seem like the movie, Groundhog Day. In a court case that was filed on November 3, 2006 (coming up on two years pretty soon) against him, there have been about 11 continuances. So, every court date it's the same ol', same ol', and back they come another day.

When someone files a half-million dollar lawsuit against someone else, wouldn't you think they'd be pretty anxious to get it in front of the judge and hire Brink's to help them carry the money out of the courtroom?

Having read the Complaint, my guess is about the only thing they'll carry out of the courtroom is a wastebasket full of wet Kleenex from all the tears they'll shed when the judge tells them they don't have a case. I'm not going to dissect Viking Dodge's Complaint and the charges against Wayne. Viking Dodge is suing Wayne for $500,000. Let's see if the fun begins in Circuit Court on February 2. It may be the jury trial of the century.

There are new comments posted to most, if not all, the Viking Dodge articles (below) by "Den". Thanks, Den. He took the time to post his comment to each Viking Dodge article. I guess he is hoping that anyone reading just one of the articles will learn of his experience. He also identifies a different internet complaints website, where there are postings of customers who had dealings with Viking Dodge.

While I was standing on the shoulder of Highway 14 with Wayne yesterday, a man in a red sedan yelled at Wayne and expressed his comments about prior dealings with Viking Dodge. I won't repeat them here, because I don't know his name and couldn't read his license plate number, as he waited to turn left and go west on IL 176.

If you have had dealings with Viking Dodge (good or otherwise), or if you know someone who has, how about posting your comments? Be truthful.

And if you need any help contacting Wayne to support his case, just stop and talk to him; or contact me and I'll be happy to pass along your message.

Wayne was on vacation recently and said the price of gas in Nebraska was $3.25. How come we are getting ripped off so badly here in McHenry County? I was in Springfield a week ago and paid $3.68, and that was before the price dropped here. If you want to know just how badly we are getting ripped off on the price of gasoline here, go to www.gasbuddy.com

Viking Dodge - Today's Lies

If you have been following Wayne, of Viking Dodge vs. Wayne Beto, then you know he is still around. Wayne is the man with the signs in Crystal Lake who has been, and is, picketing Viking Dodge at the corner of US 14 and IL 176. You can read the whole story here [search (upper left) for Viking Dodge] or you can go to www.ripoffreport.com and search for Viking Dodge. There are 34 entries there.

Wayne asked me to drop by today at 3:30PM, because he planned to picket. I met Wayne and his son in his favorite parking spot, and we walked across the street to the grass along the curb in front of the dealership.

When Wayne is in Crystal Lake, many drivers honk and wave as they pass. Frequently, a driver will stop and talk with Wayne. If you wonder what's going on, stop and ask Wayne why he is there.

We were there for about 45 minutes and stayed near the curb. The right-of-way extends for 20 feet from the curb, and it is legal to be there. Wayne has already fought off Crystal Lake about the signs on his car. The City Attorney for Crystal Lake finally agreed with Wayne that his right to picket there is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

While we were there, two Viking Dodge employees walked to the front of the lot and within about 25 feet of us. Their demeanor was pleasant enough, and they did not attempt to engage in any conversation. About 4:15PM Wayne's son and I walked back across the street to our vehicles. His son pulled out and circled around to pick up Wayne. I later wished I had waited for him to pick up his dad.

About 6:30PM Wayne called to tell me that someone at Viking Dodge had called the Crystal Lake Police and reported that Wayne was "on their property" and had been blocking vehicles from using their driveway. Two officers showed up and talked to Wayne and his son. A police department report now exists with an assigned number.

Since I was there, I know for a fact that none of us was on Viking Dodge property and none of us blocked the driveway.

I went to the Crystal Lake Police Department this evening and offered information about exactly how we conducted ourselves this afternoon. I stated to the police sergeant that it is a serious matter when a person files a false report with a police department.

Our courts are already clogged enough with cases, but it is my hope that Crystal Lake PD will be closely monitoring all future reports by Viking Dodge management.

An employee of Viking Dodge was convicted of stealing one of Wayne's signs. One day Viking Dodge employees boxed in Wayne's car with three big pick-up trucks, until the police showed up and took control of things. On another day Wayne was challenged in the bowling alley parking lot by Viking Dodge employees.

On another day a box of nails was scattered throughout the highway shoulder where Wayne usually parks. Now who would have done something like that? IDOT cleaned up that mess; at what cost?

Viking Dodge is suing Wayne. The case has been continued 11 times. That's ELEVEN times. They can't seem to get ready. Why a judge would ever allow a case to be continued ELEVEN times, I'm having a hard time figuring out. I'd be screaming, "Try this case or dismiss it!"

If you are thinking about doing business with Viking Dodge (or with any car dealership), do your homework. Read the horror stories of buying experiences of others. Remember: car salesmen get a lot of practice selling cars; you get hardly any experience at buying them. Who do you think is going to win in the deal?

The car salesman is not your friend. His job and that of the Finance Manager is to get as much of your money out of your pocket as possible. Your job is to keep as much IN your pocket as possible.

Read everything. Read it twice. Do not leave any blank spaces empty. If there is a blank space in a contract, either a number goes into it before you sign it, or you put a line through it or an "x" and then initial it. What do you think is going to happen if you leave it blank? Right!

And get a copy of EVERY form you sign, no matter what the Finance Manager says about the copying machine's being broken or that he'll mail it to you the next day. Tell him to send the salesman over to Kinko's for a copy; many Kinko's are open 24/7.

Don't get rushed. Don't allow yourself to feel pressured. There is nothing inherently wrong with buying a car on the day you are there, but you don't have to. There will ALWAYS be another car. In fact, probably the same car! If you feel you are getting pressured, just get up and walk out.

>>>>> Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware. <<<<< Print that and staple it to your checkbook before you head off to a dealer.

Viking Dodge v. Wayne Beto

Another day in McHenry County Court came and went in the battle of Viking Dodge v. Wayne Beto. When I pulled into the courthouse parking lot this morning, there was Wayne's car, right in the first handicapped parking spot near the building.

Wayne was on-time in Judge Caldwell's court, although his attorney from Franks & Gerkin was AWOL. And AWOL through the second call of Wayne's case.

And what happened later? Nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. Viking Dodge has apparently asked for ANOTHER continuance. I didn't wait around longer. Wayne thinks today is the 11th (count 'em: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11) continuances in a case that was started two years ago - in June 2006!

It seems to me that somebody at Franks & Gerkin ought to be grabbing the reins and putting a stop to this legal nonsense. After the second continuance, I would have been ordering my attorney to grow some backbone and ask the judge - politely, professionally, respectfully BUT firmly - to dismiss the case. And after the 3rd or 4th continuance?

Well, maybe Franks & Gerkin is representing Wayne pro bono. I didn't ask. If they are, I guess Wayne won't care how many continuances there have been or will be.

Wayne, as you may already know, is a disgruntled former customer of Viking Dodge of Crystal Lake. Wayne has been picketing Viking Dodge by parking the Dodge Magnum he owns on the shoulder of U.S. 14, just east of Route 176 (Terra Cotta Avenue). On some days he'll even walk along Terra Cotta Avenue in front of Viking Dodge with one of his signs. Wayne is careful to stay in the public right-of-way and off of Viking Dodge's property.

Oh, Wayne drives a Dodge? Indeed, he does. One that he bought at Viking Dodge. One that he had serviced at Viking Dodge. One that he intended to trade in on a new car from Viking Dodge. A car that Viking was to order from the factory, built to the specifications in the order Wayne placed at Viking Dodge.

Up until that point, Wayne was a satisfied customer of Viking Dodge. And then everything changed. Wayne is not now just a dissatisfied customer of Viking Dodge. Make that a DISSATISFIED Customer.

And he won't go away. He won't be silenced. Wayne has big signs on his car, informing all passersby of his disappointment and displeasure.

Wayne can't get any press coverage in "the" daily newspaper of McHenry County. They won't take any interest in the story, even when Wayne approaches them with new information, like nails scattered along the highway shoulder - coincidentally, right where Wayne parks. Now, who would have done such a dastardly act???

Like when an employee of Viking Dodge stole (and was convicted of) stealing one of Wayne's signs. Like when a manager approached Wayne and said something like, "You have no idea who I am!" Like when three Viking Dodge employees drove big pick-up trucks over the corner where Wayne was parked and then blocked his Magnum by parking inches in front of and behind him, and alongside on the highway side of Wayne's car.

Two of the pick-up trucks had no license plates. I was there that day and asked a Crystal Lake police officer to ticket them; instead he telephoned his sergeant, who called Viking Dodge, who sent license plates across the street for the trucks. Favoritism? You bet! Viking Dodge is a huge sales-tax payer in Crystal Lake!

Crystal Lake ticketed Wayne a while back for illegal signs on his Magnum. Gee, I wonder who sicced them on Wayne. Any guesses?

Wayne and I talked about that a lot, and I supported him in keeping after the Administration of Crystal Lake and the City Council. This was clearly a Freedom of Speech action supported by the U.S. Constitution, and finally the City Attorney wrote Wayne and said the charge would be dismissed by the City. But why was Wayne harassed in that manner in the first place?

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT