Jim Belushi Sued Over Used SUV Sale

Posted: 2007-10-26 07:02:50

Filed Under: Celebrities in Court, TV News

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (Oct. 26) - Comedian Jim Belushi is being sued by the 78-year-old father of his former driver, who accuses him of selling a used 2001 Land Rover that turned out to be a lemon.

Ted Lewandowski worked as Belushi's driver when the star was filming the Walt Disney movie "Underdog" in Providence. He claims the SUV needed more than $6,000 in repairs - and he demands that Belushi pay.

"The claim is false and frivolous," Belushi's Los Angeles attorney, Brian Wolf, said Thursday. "The exact claim for the same repairs to the same vehicle has already been adjudicated."

Wolf said a Los Angeles small claims court found in February that Belushi did not owe Lewandowski any money, and the new action amounts to harassment of his client.

While driving Belushi last year, Lewandowski mentioned that he wanted to buy a car for his father Jan Lewandowski, said Steve VanderPyl, a private investigator for Lewandowski. He said Belushi suggested his old Land Rover and referred Lewandowski to a listing for the vehicle posted on the Internet auction site eBay.

"He told him it was in perfect mechanical condition," VanderPyl told The Associated Press. "He thought being a movie star, the guy's not going to lie to me about it."

He said Lewandowski sent an $11,500 payment to Belushi's representatives in California, then flew to the West Coast to retrieve the SUV.

On the way home, the Land Rover broke down in Arizona because it needed a new fuel pump, VanderPyl said, and still requires a new water pump, a radiator and other work totaling about $5,000.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2007-10-26 07:02:50

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41 comments

RTPELL 08:24:00 AM Oct 29 2007

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Who buys a used car without having it properly inspected for needed repairs and maintenance????!!!!! "Used cars buy and take care, buyer beware!"

Vagntlman1 06:46:00 PM Oct 28 2007

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WHO CARES?

jeff1am1 12:20:00 PM Oct 27 2007

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The repair man saw a chance to make some money when the guy said it belonged to Jimmy. and the guy bought all that repairs at one time? sucked in.

gerodoc1955 11:44:01 AM Oct 27 2007

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Land Rovers are the least reliable vehicles on the market. And this one was used with no warranty.
Caveat emptor!

zapzipzoom 11:37:50 AM Oct 27 2007

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Belushi is also being sued by God for his undeserved fame and fortune.

Mmpmoyer 11:23:43 AM Oct 27 2007

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Then again, I've seen Chevy small blocks in just about everything, including a motorcycle

Mmpmoyer 11:20:40 AM Oct 27 2007

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I've seen Chevy small blocks put in Jaguars, So they'll work

Mmpmoyer 11:20:38 AM Oct 27 2007

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I've seen Chevy small blocks put in Jaguars, So they'll work

Mmpmoyer 11:20:32 AM Oct 27 2007

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I've seen Chevy small blocks put in Jaguars, So they'll work

Mmpmoyer 11:14:17 AM Oct 27 2007

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breakdowns on a British car? who ever heard of such a thing? Why do you think they all ride bikes?

lorehill 10:56:00 AM Oct 27 2007

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Who knows what wrong with a car? You just take your chance.

Psychopost2000 10:40:05 AM Oct 27 2007

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There are lemons in every car brand out there. It's not just the Land Rover. Some states, like California, require private parties to reveal any mechanical defects that might exist to potential buyers. The person who purchased this vehicle should've had it checked by a mechanic before buying it. Having a mechanic perform a simple diagnostic service or road test is alot cheaper than finding out later the vehicle is a pile of junk needing major repairs.
Some states require used car dealerships to automatically include a 30 day used car warranty in case of mechanical breakdowns.

cpataustin 10:12:00 AM Oct 27 2007

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The guy buys a 7 year old used car and then complains because it needs some repairs? This is a perfect example of why losers in lawsuits should have to pay all court costs, to prevent such frivolous nonsense.

promptshipping 09:17:20 AM Oct 27 2007

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You'd think a 78 year old man would know better than to buy a Land Rover.

Crockettdrum 08:50:41 AM Oct 27 2007

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That's what you get for buying a Landrover! Those things are known to be totally unreliabe. Besides, if you were selling a used car,would you tell a prospective buyer about all the stupid little things wrong with it? IT'S USED!

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41 comments