Illinois Dealership Tried to Pull a “Fine Print” Fast One on a Blind Man

A blind man from North Chicago has filed a lawsuit against a dealership after claiming he was misled during the purchase of a vehicle and unknowingly signed paperwork containing dramatically different terms than what had been discussed.

Lawsuit Claims Vehicle Price Jumped More Than $10,000

According to the lawsuit, Jerry Bosley visited a dealership in Grayslake in July 2023 to purchase a Chevy Traverse for family members to drive him. The SUV had reportedly been advertised online for $32,915, and Bosley says dealership staff agreed to that price while also promising to beat the 6% interest rate offered by his credit union.

But Bosley later discovered the final contract allegedly told a very different story.

Buyer Says He Was Not Given Proper Assistance Reviewing Documents

The lawsuit claims dealership employees verbally summarized the paperwork rather than providing Bosley with accommodations that would allow him to independently review the documents despite his visual impairment.

Bosley alleges he unknowingly signed a contract showing a final purchase price of more than $43,000... over $10,000 higher than expected... along with an 11% interest rate instead of the promised 6%.

The suit argues that the dealership failed to properly disclose the changes and did not provide equal access to the information required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Arbitration Agreement Could Become Key Issue in Court

After realizing the higher costs, Bosley reportedly contacted the dealership to dispute the agreement. He says he was told nothing could be changed because the paperwork had already been signed.

The dealership has also argued that Bosley gave up his right to sue by signing an arbitration agreement included in the documents. Bosley claims he was unaware he had signed away that right.

Now, a court will decide whether the case can move forward or if the arbitration agreement will prevent the lawsuit from being heard publicly.

The lawsuit seeks up to $50,000 under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, along with additional compensatory and punitive damages.