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Saturday, November 07, 2009

Prominent car dealer's finances slip into reverse
LaRiche Toyota-Subaru
By LOU WILIN

STAFF WRITER

From the 1980s into this decade, Stan Kujawa lived in the fast lane, selling thousands of new cars from his "Home of the Dirt Cheap Deal" and living in the Lincoln Continental of homes in Findlay.

His Findlay Ford, once off Bright Road and then off Interstate 75, was the top-selling Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealership in the nation.

Kujawa's signature white shirts seemed to match his white brick, 8,800-square-foot home in Findlay's exclusive Pheasant Run subdivision.

Appraised at $1.3 million in 2007, the house has five bedrooms, eight-and-a-half bathrooms, and an indoor swimming pool, according to Hancock County records.

It is so big that Kujawa needed two lots for it when it was built in the mid-1990s.

And why not?

He seemed to be rolling in success.

After all, Kujawa was a leading entrepreneur and a leading philanthropist, donating money to worthy causes, and even clearing his showroom for his annual party and charitable auction to help pediatric patients in San Salvador.

His philanthropy led to Ford Motor Co. giving him its Heroes for the Planet award in 2001.

But now Kujawa's life appears to have stalled.

His business struggled, his inventory shrunk and the dealership's quick-service annex shuddered. Then the business ran out of gas completely, thanks to the recession and lawsuits.

The property and the franchise are now owned by the Reineke family.

And now Kujawa's Pheasant Run mansion faces foreclosure.

Chase Home Finance recently filed foreclosure complaints in Hancock County Common Pleas Court on both the house and the neighboring lot, claiming Kujawa and his wife, Patricia, owe $912,960 on a loan.

They stopped making their $5,521 monthly payments last March, according to the lawsuit.

They also owe $69,752 on the neighboring lot, according to a separate foreclosure complaint.

Kujawa, 65, who now resides in Sanibel Island, Fla., said the foreclosure has "nothing to do with bad business decisions. It has to do with my ex-manufacturer."

He contends the setbacks have been caused by Ford Motor Co., who he is suing, claiming Ford provided him poor defense in a Michigan lawsuit. Kujawa claims Ford reneged on a contract to defend Findlay Ford and pay any damages if it lost the case.

Because Ford Motor Co. abandoned all responsibility and the Michigan plaintiffs were seeking a huge amount, $290 million, Findlay Ford was unable to get credit to finance basic operations, Kujawa said.

In addition, Ford Motor Co. turned on Kujawa, trying to squeeze him out of business last year and this year, he claims in a court filing. Kujawa is seeking unspecified punitive damages in his lawsuit against Ford.

In May 2008, Ford Motor Credit Co. refused to approve a financing plan Kujawa submitted for cars on his lot.

"I was in a box," Kujawa said. "This is my so-called partner that was protecting me, or supposed to be protecting me, for all these years."

The big Michigan lawsuit had been filed against Findlay Ford by former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov and a former team masseur who suffered brain injuries in a 1997 limousine crash.

The men were being driven home from a golf outing when the limo driver fell asleep at the wheel and struck a tree in suburban Detroit. None of the passengers was wearing seat belts.

Findlay Ford had sold the limo to the company which employed the limo driver.

Kujawa and his dealership prevailed when the lawsuit went to federal trial in Detroit in spring 2008. When the plaintiffs appealed the case, the dealership again prevailed last spring.

But Kujawa claims the year-long credit dearth took a heavy toll on the dealership. Ford Motor Co. further retaliated after he sued it, a Kujawa court filing claims.

Earlier this year, Ford Motor Credit Co. shut down Kujawa's used car program and prevented Kujawa from advertising, a court filing claims.

Last March, Ford Motor Credit representatives told Kujawa he could not sell any vehicles unless he received a certified check for them, a measure designed to prevent sales, a court filing claims.

People then began to notice there were fewer cars on the Findlay Ford lot off Interstate 75 at Hancock County 99 and North Main Street.

In May, Kujawa further reduced inventory and staff. Both were about half the size they had been a few years earlier.

"I hung on best I could," Kujawa said.

But his options were grim, he said: File bankruptcy or sell the dealership.

"I sold (the dealership) to save 60 jobs in Findlay. I could have filed bankruptcy and gone under ... I could not do that," Kujawa said, choking up.

"I went into foreclosure (on his house) so I could pay vendors."

When Kujawa sold the dealership last July to the Reineke family, he said it was for half the amount he had invested in the new location.

He opened the two white-brick structures in 2000 with plenty of hoopla after outgrowing his former Bright Road location.

With 15 acres and two buildings housing 84,000 square feet, including a cafe and car rental center, the dealership dwarfed its competitors.

There is still another, unexpected casualty related to the demise of Findlay Ford: the Kujawas' Children's Wishing Star Center.

Started in 1996 by the couple, the center alleviated a shortage of pediatric beds in San Salvador by providing temporary shelter and support to children recovering from burns, malnutrition, cancer, and abuse, among other things.

"We closed its doors," Kujawa said, his voice cracking. "We're not able to help the children."

His lawsuit against Ford claims Kujawa suffered from depression and kidney problems as a result of the court case involving the limousine crash.

Now Kujawa awaits his day in court as a plaintiff, with Ford Motor Co. as the defendant.

"I feel Ford Motor Co. sacrificed myself and my dealership to protect their own image and also save $290 million potential loss," Kujawa said.

"They let me down. They let my dealership be forced to sell, and it is not the way I wanted to see my career end as a Ford Motor Co. representative," Kujawa said.

He had spent 40 years selling Ford products, 25 as the Findlay dealer and 15 years as a salesman in Toledo.

At 65, he was trying to spend more time relaxing with his family in Florida, but he also had no concrete plans of quitting the car business.

"The bottom line is, I enjoyed the car business," he said. Then he repeated it with added emphasis. "I enjoyed the car business. And I enjoyed my customers. It was in my blood."

Wilin: 419-427-8413

Send an e-mail to Lou Wilin


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40 Comments (4 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
Good Friend of Stans. wrote:
ppl who jump to conclusions are so cool. :)
“ for all you who say that he is livin' the good life in Florida!
you are stupid and idiots!!!!!

first off, that house has been up for sale for about a year now, so he is trying to sell it. the economy is bad and nobody is offering to pay for such a big home, is that Stan's fault? NO idiots.
soo he isn't all peachy , and happy in Florida. but really nice that you guys can go search on the internet for a picture of his home like you know whats going on.
good thing you have a life :) ”
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 7:27:12 AM
bev wrote:
prominet car dealer
“ two things are at play concerning how people react to this story...part is pure envy...they want what he had all those years...now, that he is in the position he is, they are enjoying it just a bit...probably more than they should.
The other thing i think that causes people to have a problem with this article is the way it came out sounding. It was like "poor Stan"... he was suffering such hardships of life.
While, I would never wish bad luck on anyone, it is rather difficult to feel sorry for someone who is sitting in an extremely nice home in florida while so many others are barely scraping by. It makes it moreso knowing that he had years of an excellant income where he could have been clearing a mortgage on a less ostentatious house, and putting money into his savings for his old age. Sadly, part of what happened to him, is what has happened to many of all classes of Americans...they thought the "gravy train" would continue forever...they lived the high life, even if it meant being waaaaay in debt. "Charge it" was their motto...

I think it is sadder about the many people who believed in good ole Bernie Maddoff and are now having to work just to survive, literally, even though they are past retirement age...

Stan took a chance over the years, he rolled the financial dice, and lost the gamble...much like what happened back in 1929 when the Stock Market crashed...but, it still is an unfortunate event happening all over the United States...on many levels... this is just one example... ”
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 11:02:16 PM
Steve wrote:
kYLE
“ You're wrong. A local business did fail. Lots of people did lose their jobs over this, it didn't just happen in a day, it took several months, and maybe years, since I'm not privy to the businesses internal workings.

The "quicklane" closed before the used car business in the same building downsized and the building was completely shuttered. People were let go. New cars stopped coming in and as the business slumped people were let go. I talked with an employee one day, a month or two before the transfer, and about 10 employees remained... total.

I don't know if you ever drove by, but there were only a handful of vehicles left on the lot by then. If that didn't affect the finances of the employees who were let go, and the community by extension, I can't imagine what would.

Since Reineke's took over the inventory has slowly grown to the point where maybe a a good portion of the old employees have been called back, or maybe new ones hired, or maybe just brought in from other dealerships until things can turn around, I don't know, do you? The point to this facet of the discussion is that 60 employees didn't just continue on their merry way when a long time, generous, tax paying, job providing businessman went under.

Personally I think the guy deserves at least a little respect for all he provided to the community over the years. ”
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 5:21:01 PM
kYLE wrote:
Steve
“ I guess your missing the point. It has nothing to do with wishing ill on someone. The thriving local business didn't fail or contribute to the financial hardship of the employees and community. The Reineke Family took over the business and retained its 60+ employees.

The point is the spin that was placed on this situation, trying to make it sound as if Stan has joined the legimate unfortunate that have lost their jobs and homes in this economic downturn.

The Courier wrote ...

"But now Kujawa's life appears to have stalled."

ummmm...look at his home in Fla. and tell me it "stalled"..he simply retired.

"The property and the franchise are now owned by the Reineke family."

like its a bad thing...they bought it for $3.35 million, and kept the employees.

"And now Kujawa's Pheasant Run mansion faces foreclosure."

A strategic foreclosure is hardly a sign of financial hardship. Many people are doing it because they are finding they owe more than the value of the home. Not that they have no money.

The sorrow I feel is reserved for the unfortunate that have lost their jobs, their health, or their spouse and then had their homes foreclosed on.
 ”
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:42:03 AM
Quickledo wrote:
Life's pathetic losers
“ The pathetic individuals who cheer on Mr. Kujawa's legal difficulties and personal challenges are the definition of losers!

This is a man who spent the last few decades providing jobs and services in Findlay and Hancock County, and deserves respect. He has mine.

In the end, all that Stan did was to sell a car to the wrong person then watch the lawyers twist reality. Sound familiar?

It is my hope that the lifer losers cheerleading Stan's problems are stuck with jobs that are provided for them by people who make less money than they do. Maybe then they will think that all is fair in the world. ”
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 7:55:17 AM
Steve wrote:
kYLE
“ Trust me, I don't have to look at a birdseye view, or any view for that matter. I know what type of homes are on Sanibel.
I guess you think its nice that a thriving local business failed, contributing to the financial hardship of employees, and the community.
Being successful, and having a prosperous career used to be part of the American Dream. To wish ill will toward a guy that made it only to watch it fall apart is sick. ”
Monday, November 09, 2009 9:05:39 PM
elwf4905 wrote:
Doug...
“ Prior to our current (terrible) housing market, it was a fact that the auditor's appraised value was less than both the market value and private appraisers' values. I've owned two homes, bought in 2003 and 2008, both of which followed this theory; and prior to buying both homes we viewed 50+ properties and it was true as well in nearly every case.

When it does not apply is in the current environment when a majority of houses are foreclosures, short sales, or on the verge of either of these things and so people are willing to sell for less than market value.

So just because it doesn't apply to you Doug, doesn't mean it is or was true. ”
Monday, November 09, 2009 5:35:37 PM
Doug wrote:
elwf4905 wrong..
“ Best go check your facts again. According to the Auditor my house is valued at 73 grand, which I pay taxes on. I just bought this house last year for 66 grand and the appraisal on it was 64 grand. I'd be happy paying tax on what I paid for it and not the appraisal value. Of course when I questioned the Auditors office on these numbers they told me, "different appraisers will give you different values"! Of course not once did they tell me I could "apply" to have it reappraised to possibly get the taxes lowered. I had to read about it later in the paper but by then it was past the date "authorized" to get a possible tax change... ”
Monday, November 09, 2009 4:15:36 PM
kYLE wrote:
Feeling sorry
“ I to...feel sorry Steve. Looks like Stan is really struggling...he sold the dealership for $3.35 million, and have you seen his run down shack on Sanibel Isl.? Copy and paste the link below into your web browser to have a look. Make sure you look at the birds eye view and rotate around it...he is really down on his luck.

http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9eXAuNTYxK0tpbnppZStJc2xhbmQrQ3QlMmMrK1NhbmliZWwlMmMrRkwrMzM5NTclN2Vzc3QuMCU3ZXBnLjEmYmI9MjYuNDQ2NzI4MzA0MjY3OSU3ZS04Mi4wMjcwMTgwNTIyODIzJTdlMjYuNDQ0OTY0MjczMTc0NiU3ZS04Mi4wMjgzMTE1MzY3NzI3 ”
Monday, November 09, 2009 10:52:31 AM
Steve wrote:
Sad story
“ I do feel bad for Stan, I had some business over the years with him, and always considered him to be a genuine nice guy. I can't really connect with the detractors here, isn't it their dream to one day have the means to do some of the same things Stan was able to? I don't get it.
I guess it all boils down to misery loving company. To all of the mean spirited posters here, watch out for the karma bus. ”
Monday, November 09, 2009 8:52:39 AM
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