MINEOLA, NY, December 16, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Bellavia Cohen P.C a/k/a DealerLaw.com, a law firm representing automotive dealerships nationwide, has filed a class action complaint against Ford Motor Company on behalf of two New York dealerships. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, seeks to recover unpaid warranty reimbursements for electric vehicle (EV) battery replacements.
The complaint, filed by 440 Jericho Turnpike Auto Sales LLC and Patchogue 112 Motors LLC, alleges that Ford underpaid Jericho Turnpike nearly $300,000 and Patchogue over $615,000 for multiple EV battery replacements. According to the lawsuit, these payments fell far short of what New York law requires. Under the Franchised Motor Vehicle Dealer Act, manufacturers must compensate dealerships for warranty work at rates comparable to those charged to non-warranty customers.
"Ford is not the only manufacturer falling short on EV battery replacement fees," said Leonard Bellavia, founder of Bellavia Cohen P.C. "This is the first of many lawsuits our firm will be filing in several states over the next few months against various equipment manufacturers. This lawsuit is just the tip of the iceberg."
The plaintiffs allege that the dealerships are entitled to reimbursement at the retail price of the parts plus applicable markups. For example, Jericho Turnpike replaced 15 batteries since early 2024, but Ford reimbursed only $600 per battery for 13 of them. According to the lawsuit, Jericho should have received approximately $22,600 per battery, resulting in a $286,200 shortfall. Patchogue replaced 28 batteries, receiving only $600 per unit, when the proper reimbursement should have been $22,600 per battery, resulting in damages exceeding $615,000.
The lawsuit seeks class certification, damages, injunctive relief, attorneys' fees, and other relief deemed appropriate by the court. Bellavia Cohen is also seeking to recruit additional dealerships to join the lawsuit, which could expand the litigation nationwide.
Ford has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Implications for Dealers Nationwide
Franchised dealerships across the U.S. may face similar underpayment issues for EV battery replacements and other warranty work. Bellavia Cohen, with more than 38 years of experience representing dealerships, seeks to hold manufacturers accountable and secure fair compensation for dealers. Dealerships that believe they have been underpaid are encouraged to contact Bellavia Cohen to explore participation in the class action, which could provide a more efficient and cost-effective way to recover funds than pursuing individual lawsuits.
About Bellavia Cohen P.C.
Bellavia Cohen P.C. has more than 38 years of experience in dealership law and is a nationally recognized authority in automotive franchise law and marine industry law. The firm has represented thousands of automobile and marine dealerships nationwide. With offices on Long Island, Manhattan, Saratoga, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Chicago, the attorneys at Bellavia Cohen have extensive experience litigating against manufacturers of automobiles and boats nationwide.
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