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Charfoos & Christensen File National Class Action Suit Against Budget Rent-A-Car

8 October 1997

Charfoos & Christensen File National Class Action Suit in Michigan Accusing Budget Rent-A-Car of Gouging Detroit and Other American City Consumers

    DETROIT, Oct. 8 -- Budget Rent-A-Car is gouging Detroit and
other American City consumers according to a National Class Action lawsuit
filed in Wayne County Circuit court by J. Douglas Peters and Ann Mandt of
Detroit's Charfoos & Christensen law firm.
    The lawsuit, filed on behalf of class representative, Sandra Daniels,
accuses Budget of setting rental rates based on the renter's residential zip
code.  If you live in Detroit, you will be charged 4 times as much as someone
who lives in Bloomfield Hills.
    According to Ms. Daniels' attorneys, Budget is simply ripping off
consumers.  Ms. Daniels, African American woman who lives in the City of
Detroit, rented a compact car for the "weekend rate" of $229.98.  On the same
weekend, Louis Guidone, a Caucasian male and resident of Bloomfield Hills
rented a compact car for the rate of $61.12 for the weekend.
    "This scheme is nothing more than a way to discriminate against minorities
and grossly overcharge Detroit and other city residents," said Mr. Peters.
"It is unconscionable and we will ask the Court to make Budget stop the
practice immediately.  We will also ask for money and punitive damages."

SOURCE  Charfoos & Christensen, P.C.