Page 60 - BusinessWest July 10, 2023

COURT DOCKETS>>
The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.
HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT Brianna Pohler individually and p/p/a Layla Cruz
v. Robert Willis, MD; Rachel Mick, CPNP; and Ludlow Pediatrics
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $150,000+ Filed: 6/5/23
Continued from page 41
Donald Dion v. North Star Pulp & Paper Co. Inc., Casella Waste Systems, and Sharon LeBlanc Allegation: Defamation, interference with contractual or advantageous relations: $50,000+ Filed: 6/5/23
Kaitlyn Peters v. Olympia Beacon Square LLC Allegation: Fraud: $500,000
Filed: 6/6/23
Giovanni Gonzalez, Charise Gonzalez, Xain Gonzalez, p/p/a Charise v. Eversource Energy, Eversource Energe Service Co., Eversource Gas Co. of Massachusetts, and Eversource LLC Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury: $3,078,000+
“We’ve done a really good job sourcing them from our own customers, like marketing to people in our market that we’re interested in buying their car, and that’s how we’ve been able
to maintain our levels. But it’s been difficult. It’s been more work than it’s been in the past, that’s for sure.”
people decide, ‘can I go all the way in electric, and which one do I get, based on range and price and tax credits?’
“It is certainly a growing part of the business, but what’s interesting to watch as well is the number of people who go out with an electric and decide they’ll take one step away from that and go plug-in hybrid,” he went on. “We’re seeing a real demand push going on for plug-in hydrids; the hybrids have been around for a while, but the plug-in hybrid is really starting to come into its own. We’re seeing a huge increase in demand for those vehicles.”
Meanwhile, sales of SUVs, especially the smaller, crossover models, continue to dominate the market. Some makers have all but stopped selling sedans
— Ford has only the Mustang left in its portfolio, for example — amid growing popularity of SUVs, which appeal to consumers of all ages.
Cosenzi said sales of models such as the Hyundai Tuscon, Nissan Rogue, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Volvo XT60 continue to trend higher. There is still a market for sedans, she went on, noting that VW’s Jetta and Hyundai’s Elantra, both smaller models with comparatively smaller price tags, are still a strong seller. But that market is smaller and continuing to trend in that direction.
Marcotte concurred, pointing to soaring demand for the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport, a smaller SUV that is capturing an audience.
“We’re getting a lot of new buyers because of the style of the Bronco Sport — we’ve had some Escape customers, people who have bought two or three
Filed: 6/7/23
Rose Entertainment LLC v. Dominic Kirchner, Damascus Holding LLC, and SR Commercial Realty Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract, breach of implied good faith and fair dealing, misrepresentation and fraud in the inducement, negligence: $400,000 Filed: 6/7/23
Brian Cancel Torres v. Bob’s Discount Furniture LLC d/b/a Bob’s Discount Furniture
Allegation: Negligence causing personal injury: $7,921.05
Filed: 6/8/23
Escapes, moving to the Bronco Sport,” he said, adding that another popular addition to the portfolio is the Maverick, a small truck that gets 40 miles to the gallon and lists for under $30,000.
As for the used-car market, 2023 has looked a whole lot like ... well, 2022, said those we spoke with, much to the chagrin of consumers and dealers alike.
The problem, now and then, is inventory, or lack thereof, said Cosenzi, adding that supplies remain low, for many reasons. These include fewer new- car sales (compared to pre-pandemic levels) and, therefore, fewer trade-ins, as well as the fact that seemingly all constituencies, from consumers to car-rental companies, are hanging onto their cars longer.
That means there are fewer pre-owned cars on the lots, which equates to higher prices, a simple byproduct of the laws of supply and demand that is not likely to change any time soon, Sullivan said.
Cosenzi agreed, noting that dealers can’t get as many cars, and they have to work much harder to secure what they can.
“We’ve done a really good job sourcing them from our own customers, like marketing to people in our market that we’re interested in buying their car, and that’s how we’ve been able to maintain our levels,” she said. “But it’s been difficult. It’s been more work than it’s been in the past, that’s for sure.”
The Road Ahead
Summing up the mindset at Balise, Sullivan said the company is “bullish,” and in a growth mode.
And, increasingly, it is securing the fuel it needs for such growth — fuel in the form of inventory, demand for products (especially the new electric vehicles and SUVs now dominating the lots), and economic conditions that will prompt consumers to buy.
Time will tell what happens over the final two quarters of this year, but it seems likely that dealers will do more of that catching up that was projected for 2023. BW
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Autos
some respect,” she went on. “However, people like to feel and touch and experience what they’re going to be driving, so there’s definitely an opportunity to lose market when you don’t have the right inventory and your competitor does.”
Sullivan said inventories are generally improving across the spectrum of brands in the Balise stable, which now includes a second Subaru store (the other is in Rhode Island), with the quiet acquisition of the Steve Lewis dealership on Route 9 in Hadley early this spring. Overall, 60% of cars are now pre- sold, or factory-ordered, compared with 80% to 90% at the height of COVID.
Overall, he said, there is now more of a willingness on the part of consumers to factory- order vehicles and get exactly what they want — and wait several weeks for it — while rising inventory levels improve the odds of getting exactly what they want (or at least close) and driving it off the lot the same day.
Marcotte said levels of inventory are rising at his Ford store, but a good number of vehicles — maybe 33% of all sales, by his estimate — are still factory- ordered, with wait times of roughly six to 12 weeks, compared with four to six months at the height of COVID.
“It’s back to normal in many respects, but you’re still dealing with some supply issues; it may not be microchips, but other parts — one widget can hold up a whole vehicle,” he said, adding that it can still be challenging to secure adequate inventories of some product, especially, in his case, trucks and cargo vans.
Current Events
But while challenges persist, those we spoke with have seen several encouraging trends and developments.
At the top of that list is electric vehicles and hybrids, sales of which have been climbing steadily, if unspectacularly, over the past several years.
Within the Balise stable, Sullivan said, there are now 15 electric models, with more on the way, when a few years ago, there were just three.
“Soon, there are going to be 54 entries into
just the electric-vehicle market,” he said. “And it’s going to be a very interesting landscape to watch as
60 JULY 10, 2023
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